Book Wins 2011 American Journal of Nursing Book of the Year Award

We are thrilled that Therapeutic Activities for Children and Teens Coping with Health Issues was awarded the 2011 American Journal of Nursing Book of the Year Award in the category of Maternal and Child Health. The AJN Book of the Year Award is regarded as the most important designation of excellence in healthcare book publishing.

In her review, Patricia Robin McCartney, PhD, RNC, FAAN*, had the following to say about the book:

What an excellent practice tool for pediatric nurses! I found this collection of therapeutic activities to help children cope with health care experiences to be unique, innovative, and thorough. It begins with the theoretical framework for therapeutic play. Each of the 16 chapters provides current research evidence to support the activities along with guidelines to individualize activities based on developmental level, cultural considerations, physical restrictions, and behavioral or developmental disabilities.

Chapters are organized by important concepts (for example, body image, separation, and desensitization to medical implements) and contain activity goals, clear directions and illustrations, safety precautions, and lists of materials and the time needed for the activity. Activities are appropriate for use in both acute care and community settings. The book is accompanied by a companion disk that contains all of the activities in Word documents, which can be printed and modified. Web sites, references, and even an option for continuing education credit complete the book. Nothing has been overlooked!

Provides practice activities.

Incorporates evidence-based activities.

Makes it possible to individualize activities.

*Dr. McCartney is Director of the Nursing Research and Faculty Georgetown Scholars Program, Washington Hospital Center, Washington, DC.

New Research

Art in Hospitals: A Global Perspective

Over the centuries, art has been exhibited in hospitals for a variety of reasons, such as to honor a patron or religious figure, depict daily activities of the hospital, offer prayer, or reflect the hospital’s power and prestige. Only in recent history has there been a deliberate focus on hospital art’s ability to affect the well-being of patients and others, and to improve the healthcare experience. more

New Articles

Hanna, G., Rollins, J., Sherman, A., & Patterson, M. (2011). National Endowment for the Arts white paper–The arts and human development: Learning across the lifespan. Washington, DC: National Endowment for the Arts.

In March 2011, the National Endowment for the Arts and the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services hosted a first-of-its-kind event to showcase and discuss recent research on the arts and human development. The one-day forum examined the relationship between the arts and positive health and educational outcomes at various segments of the lifespan -- from early childhood, to youth and adolescence, to older adult populations. This white paper summarizes major themes from the forum, and highlights related studies. It also makes recommendations toward establishing a long-term federal partnership to promote research and evidence-sharing nationwide.

Rollins, J. (2011). Arousing curiosity: When hospital art transcends. Health Environments Research and Design Journal, 4(3), 72–94.

Evolutionary and emotional congruence theoretical perspectives support the use of certain types of artwork to reduce stress and promote improved outcomes in healthcare settings. This paper explores the artwork of three artists whose work falls outside the traditional representational art supported by these theoretical perspectives. The concept of curiosity as a common thread is proposed as the underlying theory in an effort to explain the success of such work in achieving positive outcomes for patients, families, and staff. Other concepts are explored as contributing theoretical frameworks. Research is needed to determine the impact of this emerging type of artwork and the implications of findings for individuals who create—as well as for those who select—art for healthcare settings.

Rollins, J., Drescher, J., & Kelleher, M. (2011). Exploring the ability of a drawing by proxy intervention to improve quality of life for hospitalized children. Arts & Health: An International Journal for Research, Policy and Practice, 4(1), 55 –69. First published on: 13 June 2011 (iFirst). DOI: 10.1080/17533015.2011.564194.

Objective: The primary objective of this study was to explore the ability of a one-time drawing by proxy intervention to improve perception of quality of life for hospitalized children. Methods: The quantitative/qualitative study used a one-group pre-test/posttest design with 50 hospitalized children (ages 6–19 years), who participated in a 45–60 minute intervention based on The Moon Balloon book. The PedsQLe Present Functioning VAS, a Parent Survey, and participatory observation were used to measure results. Results: Findings revealed a statistically significant improvement in perceptions of the child’s momentary quality of life. Most parents reported learning something about their child that they had not known before. Children used imagery to express feelings about when images speak the unspoken, of beauty, of stress, and of transformation. Conclusions: Drawing by proxy improved children’s perceptions of their present quality of life, and provided an effective method for expressing their thoughts and feelings. Studies are needed to determine the intervention’s effectiveness in other settings and the characteristics individuals require for facilitating effective drawing by proxy interventions.

Free Download

Revised Book on Preparing Artists to Work with Hospitalized Children

From Artist to Artist-in-Residence: Preparing Artists to Work in Pediatric Healthcare Settings (2nd ed.) is now available online. As was the initial book published in 1996, this updated edition is designed to help arts administrators and healthcare professionals plan, implement, and evaluate an artists-in-residence training program that prepares artists to work with children who are hospitalized. It details the four step process used to prepare professional artists—musicians, dancers, poets, storytellers, and a variety of visual artists—for employment in Studio G, a pediatric artists-in-residence program launched at Georgetown University Medical Center in Washington, DC, in 1993. To download your free copy click here.