The Effect of Art Therapy in Women with Gynecologic Cancer: A Systematic Review

Wenjing Fu; Yan Huang; Xing Liu; Jianhua Ren; Mengqin Zhang

doi:10.1155/2020/8063172

The Effect of Art Therapy in Women with Gynecologic Cancer: A Systematic Review

Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2020 Apr 24:2020:8063172. doi: 10.1155/2020/8063172. eCollection 2020.

Authors

Wenjing Fu^{1

2}, Yan Huang^{1

2}, Xing Liu^{1

2}, Jianhua Ren^{1

2}, Mengqin Zhang^{1

2}

Affiliations

¹ Nursing Department, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, China.
² Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children, Sichuan University, Ministry of Education, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, China.

Abstract

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the evidence of art therapy on the psychological outcome, quality of life (QOL), and cancer-related symptoms in women with gynecological cancer.

Methods: A systematic literature search was conducted. The randomized controlled trials, quasiexperimental studies, case reports, and qualitative studies were all included.

Result: 1,587 articles were retrieved. A total of 9 articles met the inclusion criteria. The existing studies provided initial evidence to suggest that art therapy may benefit gynecological cancer patients with respect to improving psychological outcome and QOL, reducing fatigue related to cancer, and improving subjective overall health condition. However, the quality of the current evidence limits the efficacy of these findings.

Conclusion: Research on art therapy of gynecologic cancer patients is insufficient. We cannot draw the conclusion that art therapy benefits gynecological cancer patients in the psychological outcome, QOL, and cancer-related symptoms. More rigorous research is needed.

Publication types

Review