Memento Mori: Can art assist student nurses to explore death and dying? A qualitative study.

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Nurse Education Today, 2020, vol. 89

Nicol, Jane; Pocock, Mary

This report looks at how an art-based workshop assisted undergraduate nursing students to explore their experiences and beliefs about death and dying. While this study focused on an educational strategy delivered to student nurses, it is an approach that could be used with other health and social care professionals. Close and critical observation of the selected art increased participant understanding and insight of the many experiences and interpretations of death and dying.

Music in palliative care: a qualitative study with patients suffering from cancer

BMC Palliative Care, 2019 18(78)

Sandrine Pommeret, Jan Chrusciel, Catherine Verlaine, et al

This study aimed to examine how cancer patients hospitalized in the palliative care unit experienced a musical intervention. Two artists performed in the palliative care unit once a week from 9:30 am to 5:30 pm. The authors report both positive emotions but also found patients encountered difficulties during the intervention. They conclude that although music appeared to benefit the patients, it sometimes reminded them of their altered state and some experienced difficulties related to physical exhaustion. 

Fulltext available in BMC Palliative Care

Brief psychosocial interventions improve quality of life of patients receiving palliative care: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Palliative Medicine, 2019 33(3) p. 332-345
Warth, Marco; Kessler, Jens; Koehler, Friederike, et al

The authors reported the effects of 17 interventions involving 1248 patients. They conclude that brief psychosocial interventions can improve clinically relevant health outcomes, including improvement in quality of life and a reduction in emotional and existential distress compared to the control groups.

Music intervention as a tool in improving patient experience in palliative care

American Journal of Hospice & Palliative Medicine, 2019 36(1) p. 45-49

Peng, Cynthia S.; Baxter, Kelly; Lally, Kate M.

In this study, following live music intervention sessions, patients reported significant decreases in pain, anxiety, nausea, shortness of breath, and feelings of depression along with significant increase in feelings of well-being. Opioid use in time periods after the music intervention trended toward decreased usage when compared to the equivalent time period before. Finally, compiled personal narratives of patients' and families' experiences of the music intervention demonstrated common themes of spirituality, comfort, relaxation, escape, and reflection.

Hope tree: an interactive art installation to facilitate the expression of hope in a hospice setting

American Journal of Hospice & Palliative Medicine, 2018 35(10) p.1273-1279
Collins, Andrew; Bhathal, Darpanjot; Field, Tara; Larlee, Randene; Paje, Rachael; Young, Daneen

Patients can continue to have hope or be hopeful, even in the face of a terminal illness. In this paper the authors address the question 'Can participation in a creative writing practice improve the expression of hope in a hospice setting?' Each expressed hope placed on the "Hope Tree" was independently coded by all research team members utilizing inductive content analysis. Eight major themes emerged from the data: "Peace," "Dreams," "Total well-being," "Acknowledgment of loss," "Relationships," "Hospice care," "Spirituality," and "Dichotomies." It was concluded that the Hope Tree is a creative art project that can be used within a hospice environment to promote hope among family members and the health-care professionals who care for patients.