New Book

Therapeutic Activities for Children and Teens Coping with Health Issues

Judy Rollins and Robyn Hart, MEd, CCLS, Director of Child Life Services at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago, are pleased to announce the publication of their new book, Therapeutic Activities for Children and Teens Coping with Health Issues. The 379-page book, published by John Wiley & Sons, includes over 200 therapeutic activities designed to help children and adolescents cope with difficult health issues. more

New Articles

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, 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.