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Visual art in hospitals: Case studies and review of the evidence

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In 2006 a Department of Health Working Group on Arts and Health reported that the arts have 'a clear contribution to make and offer major opportunities in the delivery of better health, wellbeing and improved experience for patients, service users and staff alike'. In this review we examine the evidence underpinning this statement and evaluate the visual art of three of Scotland's newest hospitals: the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, the new Stobhill Hospital, and the new Victoria Infirmary in Glasgow. We conclude that art in hospitals is generally viewed positively by both patients and staff, but that the quality of the evidence is not uniformly high. Effects may be mediated by psychological responses to colour hue, brightness and saturation. Colours that elicit high levels of pleasure with low levels of arousal are most likely to induce a state of calm, while those causing displeasure and high levels of arousal may provoke anxiety. The fact that patients frequently express a preference for landscape and nature scenes is consistent with this observation and with evolutionary psychological theories which predict positive emotional responses to flourishing natural environments. Contrary to a view which may prevail among some contemporary artists, patients who are ill or stressed about their health may not always be comforted by abstract art, preferring the positive distraction and state of calm created by the blues and greens of landscape and nature scenes instead.
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... It is recommended to incorporate various types of artwork in hospitals, similar to what has been done at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh and the newly constructed Stobhill and Victoria Hospitals in Glasgow. These artistic elements can have a positive impact on the individuals involved in the hospital setting, as mentioned in the source material [42]. These elements were evident in 7 photos. ...
... Furthermore, the presence of visual art, depicting realistic nature images in an oncology outpatient waiting area, was positively perceived by both patients and other users of the spaces [44]. Real nature images can cause a decrease in stress, anxiety, and pain perception [42]. ...
... However, two children preferred impressionistic art pieces that included diverse elements (i.e., green areas, palace, and water features). In the literature review, children also liked the inclusion of art connected to nature [11,42]. The quotes below provide a discussion: Figure 15. ...
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This study focused on exploring the appropriate types of artwork for the public spaces of children's hospitals in Palestine. The study was carried out in two phases, with the first phase involving the evaluation and analysis of 45 photographs of artwork in two paediatric departments in Nablus City/Palestine. In the second stage, there were nine interactive workshops that incorporated artistic activities and semi-structured interviews with a varied group of individuals, including children, parents, healthcare practitioners, and designers. The study's findings suggest that incorporating nature-themed artwork would be the most appropriate way to regenerate the space for all stakeholders. Water features, culture, sport, music, abstract art, and semi-permanent art were also identified as potential themes, but it seems that nature was the most strongly preferred option. Based on the research conducted, it has been found that utilizing practical design methods can be incredibly advantageous in fostering creativity and gathering ideas and preferences from different stakeholders, including young children. The implementation of such methods can help determine the most suitable types of artwork for the interior architectural design of public spaces in children's hospitals. This study is significant as it helps to bridge the gap in the literature regarding thematic design artwork for public spaces in children's hospitals in Palestine. Moreover, this study provides valuable insights into the preferences of various stakeholders, particularly children. These insights can assist in creating healing environments in healthcare settings that cater to the needs and desires of patients and visitors alike. Overall, this research is essential in the field of healthcare architecture as it helps to create spaces that promote healing and well-being, especially in pediatric settings.
... E.O Wilson's biophilia hypothesis proposes humans are evolutionarily predisposed to seek connections with nature and other living things (17) and increased urbanization and disconnection from the natural world has been hypothesized to contribute to increasing depression, anxiety, and substance use disorders (18). Bringing art with nature themes, landscapes, and simulated nature into hospital settings has been shown to positively impact patient outcomes including reducing blood pressure, stress, anxiety, and pain (19)(20)(21)(22). Together these studies suggest that a pilot trial of a nature-themed video intervention within psilocybin-assisted therapy for AUD is warranted. ...
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Introduction Psychedelic-assisted therapy with psilocybin has shown promise in Phase 2 trials for alcohol use disorder (AUD). Set and setting, particularly factors facilitating a connection with nature, may positively influence the psychedelic experience and therapeutic outcomes. But to date, randomized controlled trials of interventions to enhance set and setting for psychedelic-assisted therapy are lacking. Methods This was a pilot randomized, controlled trial of Visual Healing, a nature-themed video intervention to optimize set and setting, versus Standard set and setting procedures with two open-label psilocybin 25 mg dosing sessions among 20 participants with AUD. For the first session, participants randomized to Visual Healing viewed nature-themed videos during the preparation session and the “ascent” and “descent” phases of the psilocybin dosing session while participants randomized to the Standard condition completed a meditation during the preparatory session and wore eyeshades and listened to a music playlist throughout the dosing session. For the second session 4 weeks later, participants chose either Visual Healing or Standard procedures. Primary outcomes were feasibility, safety, and tolerability of Visual Healing. Secondary and exploratory outcomes were changes in alcohol use, psychedelic effects, anxiety and stress. Results Nineteen of 20 (95%) randomized participants (mean age 49 ± 11 years, 60% female) completed the 14-week study. During the first psilocybin session, participants viewed an average of 37.9 min of the 42-min video and there were no video-related adverse events. Peak increase in post-psilocybin blood pressure was significantly less for participants randomly assigned to Visual Healing compared to Standard procedures. Alcohol use decreased significantly in both Visual Healing and Standard groups and psychedelic effects, stress, and anxiety were similar between groups. Discussion In this open-label pilot study, viewing Visual Healing videos during preparation and psilocybin dosing sessions was feasible, safe, and well-tolerated among participants with AUD. Preliminary findings suggest that Visual Healing has potential to reduce the cardiovascular risks of psychedelic therapy, without interfering with the psychedelic experience or alcohol-related treatment outcomes. Studies to replicate our findings as well as studies of different set and setting interventions with other psychedelic medications and indications are warranted.
... As seen in a historical perspective, different reactions may be evoked when viewing art. When viewing an abstract painting, it tends to evoke different stress reactions among patients in health care settings, while paintings of natural landscape induce calmness and harmony (Lankston et al., 2010). This may be related to the soothing effect of viewing fractals of a certain dimension, frequently seen E. Bojner Horwitz, D. Thyrén in nature and in some art-styles (Taylor et al., 2011). ...
... При цьому мистецтво -гнучкий, легко пристосований інструмент, заснований на новому розумінні взаємодії твору, матеріалу творчості і середовища, що створює ілюзію альтернативного простору і нову форму отримання інформації Таблиця автора Аналіз існуючого теоретично-практичного матеріалу показав, що сучасні технології пропонують різні підходи до створення комфортних умов проживання та підтримки хорошого рівня психічного здоров'я у простору існування людини. Наприклад, теоретичні методології, засновані на вказівках щодо: 1) використання поліхромних творів мистецтва, які загалом визначаються стилем, а також атмосферою інтер'єрного простору 22,23,24,25,26 ; 2) екологічні та ергономічні аспекти екологічного дизайну 27,28,29,30 ; 3) суттєві зв'язки між середовищем, його функціональним призначенням і фізіологічним комфортом, ефективністю праці, а також підтримкою та створенням психологічної гармонії 31,32,33 ; 4) розробка інноваційних і функціонально-корисних мобільних гаджетів, призначених для підвищення комфорту людини 34,35 . На жаль, теоретична дискусія між дослідниками на тему пошуку балансу між витворами мистецтва та колористичним рішеннями інтер'єрного простору зазвичай не виходить за рамки вже реалізованих проектів і, як наслідок, неможливо визначити інструментальні засоби, якими керувалася ця практична діяльність; таким чином логіка, застосована для досягнення бажаного ефекту, залишається невловною. ...
... While patients often prefer paintings that depict natural scenes for their positive emotional response, some patients may not get the necessary comfort form abstract art. (Lankston, 2010) . ...
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