art therapy, art therapy pictures

Photos Shown Above: Top Left – Wall Mural In LDR, Top Right – Curved Wall Mural,
Bottom Left – Large Photographs in Waiting Room, Bottom Right – Wall Mural & Way finder

Evidence Based Art

The Following Information Was Taken From A Study Done By Kathy Hathorn And Upali Nanda As Published In Facility Care Magazine

“Evidence-based Art is based upon the same principles of Evidence-based Design, and makes a commitment to basing design decisions on the best available research evidence. There is a small but significant body of research evidence today on the impact of art on clinical and behavioral outcomes of patients in hospital settings. Viewing artwork with the appropriate nature content has been seen to reduce stress and pain perception, as measured by physiological outcomes such as blood pressure, heart-rate, and skin conductance, in addition to self-report measures such as pain-rating scales and surveys. For example, in a study conducted in Sweden by Roger Ulrich, heart surgery patients in an ICU who were shown nature scenes with water, trees and high depth of field, showed lesser anxiety, suffered less intense pain, and required lower strength pain medication, than those shown abstract scenes or no images at all. Economic benefits of lower cost of pain medication, reduced length of stay and increased patient and staff satisfaction, can be extrapolated from such studies and strengthen the case for taking an evidence-based approach.”

“Yet another aspect of evidence that is relevant, in addition to the therapeutic benefit of art, relates to how presence and quality of art can effect patient/ visitor perception of the quality of care at the hospital, act as a de-stressor for staff, have an impact on the branding of the hospital, serve as a point of focus and discussion for visitors, and of course, add to the overall appeal of the visual environment(these themes are emergent from a 2007 post-occupancy evaluation of the art program at MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston). Artwork is often the most visible and noticeable aspect of the visual environment and this increases its potential impact on patient/staff/visitors, and in the final analysis, the economic bottom-line at the hospital.”

“There are well researched guidelines in place today for appropriate healthcare art based on rigorous research findings, which can be implemented, creatively, by experienced art consultants. Ulrich and Gilpin’s chapter on Healing Arts , in Frampton’s Putting Patients First, is one of the most comprehensive resources and recommends the use of

1) Waterscapes (calm or non-turbulent water)

2) Landscapes (with visual depth or open foreground, trees with broad canopy, Savannah Landscapes, verdant vegetation, or positive cultural artifacts

3) Flowers (familiar, healthy and fresh, in natural settings with open foreground)

4) Figurative Art (depicting emotionally positive faces, diverse and leisurely in nature)”

“In the end, commitment to an Evidence-Based Art program entails going the step beyond the implementation of existing guidelines, to improving and updating guidelines towards the maximum impact art can have on improving the healthcare environment.”