Participatory Art-Based Activity for Health, Social Interactions, and Quality of Life

Overseen By Kevin Galery, MS

Age: 65+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: Jewish General Hospital

Disqualifiers: Other trial, Art activity, Language

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: Unknown

128 Participants Needed

Trial Summary

What is the purpose of this trial?

Social isolation in older community-members living in urban areas and its possible reduction through a 3-month cycle of weekly museum tours.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications.

What data supports the effectiveness of the treatment Participatory Art-Based Activity?

Research shows that art therapy, which includes activities like painting and drawing, can improve the quality of life and mental well-being for cancer patients and those undergoing treatments like stem cell transplantation. Participating in art activities has been found to help with psychological symptoms and enhance overall health-related quality of life. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

How is Participatory Art-Based Activity different from other treatments for improving health and quality of life?

Participatory Art-Based Activity, like 'Thursdays at the Museum', is unique because it uses art to enhance well-being and social interactions, especially in older adults, by engaging them in creative activities in a community setting, which is different from traditional medical treatments that often focus on medication or physical therapy. ^{6 7 8 9 10}

Research Team

Olivier Beauchet, MD

Principal Investigator

McGill University

Eligibility Criteria

This trial is for older adults aged 65 and over who live in urban areas, can use the internet with a device like a computer or smartphone, and expect to live at least another three months. They should be able to understand and write either French or English. People already in another clinical trial or who have done art-based activities at the MMFA cannot join.

Inclusion Criteria

Having an Internet access with an electronic device (i.e., laptop, computer, smartphone, tablet) at the participant's place of living as the repetitive assessments for this study will be performed on the web platform of the Centre of Excellence on Longevity of McGill University

I am 65 years old or older.

Life expectancy estimated over 3 months as the duration of the follow-up is 3 months

Exclusion Criteria

Not speaking the language of the study

Concomitant participation to another clinical trial

Having participated to a participatory art-based activity of the MMFA

Timeline

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Qualitative Phase

Observation of guided tours, semi-structured interviews, focus groups, and analysis of relevant organizational documents

3 months

Weekly visits to the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts

Quantitative Phase

Randomized clinical trial to assess the impact of museum tours on social inclusion, well-being, and quality of life

3 months

Weekly visits to the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for changes in social isolation, frailty, and quality of life after the intervention

3 months

Treatment Details

Interventions

• Participatory Art-Based Activity

Trial Overview The study is testing if weekly museum tours at the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts over three months can help reduce social isolation among seniors, potentially improving their health, social interactions, and overall quality of life.

Participant Groups

Group I: Intervention group Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

The participants in the Intervention group will be participants of the MMFA participatory art-based activity.

Group II: Control Group Active Control 1 Intervention

The Control arm will be composed of older community dwellers matched on age and sex compared to the Intervention group but who will not be participants at the MMFA participatory art-based activity.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Jewish General Hospital

Lead Sponsor

Trials

144

Recruited

283,000+

Findings from Research

Art therapy interventions, particularly those involving painting or drawing, have been shown to significantly reduce anxiety and depression in cancer patients, with six out of seven quantitative studies reporting these improvements.

Additionally, art therapy has been associated with enhanced quality of life and positive effects on personal growth and coping mechanisms, although more rigorous, evidence-based studies are needed to further validate these findings.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

An overview of art therapy interventions for cancer patients and the results of research. Geue, K., Goetze, H., Buttstaedt, M., et al.[2010]

A study involving 60 children aged 7-13 with cancer showed that those who participated in painting and handcrafting art therapy experienced significant improvements in physical activity, emotional well-being, and social engagement compared to a control group.

The art therapy led to better overall health status and reduced feelings of depression and stress, indicating that creative activities can enhance the quality of life for pediatric cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effectiveness of group art therapy on quality of life in paediatric patients with cancer: A randomized controlled trial. Abdulah, DM., Abdulla, BMO.[2019]

References

1. Scotland pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

An overview of art therapy interventions for cancer patients and the results of research. [2010]

2. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

'Open Window': a randomized trial of the effect of new media art using a virtual window on quality of life in patients' experiencing stem cell transplantation. [2015]

3. Scotland pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effectiveness of group art therapy on quality of life in paediatric patients with cancer: A randomized controlled trial. [2019]

4. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The use of arts interventions for mental health and wellbeing in health settings. [2018]

5. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effects of art therapy in cancer care: A systematic review and meta-analysis. [2021]

6. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

'I don't think they knew we could do these sorts of things': social representations of community and participation in community arts by older people. [2010]

7. Ireland pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Participatory art-based activity, community-dwelling older adults and changes in health condition: Results from a pre-post intervention, single-arm, prospective and longitudinal study. [2022]

8. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effects of "Thursdays at the Museum" at the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts on the mental and physical health of older community dwellers: the art-health randomized clinical trial protocol. [2021]

9. Italy pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Social and community theatre as a response to the stress experienced by nurses, health professionals, and the relatives of those treated during the pandemic: the experience of the Mauriziano Hospital. [2022]

10. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Defining "Arts Participation" for Public Health Research. [2023]