Effects of art therapy for family caregivers of cancer patients: A systematic review

Background: Family caregivers of cancer patients can often suffer as much distress as the patients themselves throughout the course of cancer treatment. They may experience a decrease in time spent in social activities, energy, emotional well-being and the ability to cope with stress. Conversely, their relationships with the patient and the rest of their family may improve as a result of the care giving. Literature has reported on the effectiveness of art therapy in relieving patients' stress and improving quality of life. However, it is unknown if a similar effect can be found for family caregivers of cancer patients. Objectives1: The objective of this review was to synthesize the best available evidence of the effects of art therapy for family caregivers of cancer patients. Inclusion criteria: Types of participants: This review considered studies that included adult family caregivers, aged 18 years and above who provided care for a patient with cancer. A family caregiver can be defined as the person who is primarily responsible for the care of the patient. Types of intervention(s)/phenomena of interest: This review considered all artwork-related activities; for example, a creative arts intervention, or an art-making class provided by either trained or untrained personnel. © the authors 2014.