May Day 8249
The response to the online dialog between Dr. Upali Nanda and Dr. Bernard Ewigman has generated some of the most positive comments on this blog. I emailed Dr. Nanda to ask for any new publications that she might share with us. She sent me the text of an article from the May/June issue of Facilitycare Magazine.
Since Evidence-based Design is such an important (and confusing) topic I will post the entire article:
What is Evidence-based Art?
How are Evidence-based Art Programs different from regular art programs and what advantage do they offer hospitals?
Evidence-based Art is based upon the principles of Evidence-based Design, and makes a commitment to basing design decisions on the best available research evidence. There is a small but significant body of research evidence today on the impact of art on clinical and behavioral outcomes of patients in hospital settings. Viewing artwork with appropriate nature content has been seen to reduce stress and pain perception, as measured by physiological outcomes such as blood pressure, heart-rate, and skin conductance, in addition to self-report measures such as pain-rating scales and surveys. For example, in a study conducted in Sweden by Roger Ulrich, heart surgery patients in an ICU who were shown nature scenes with water, trees and high depth of field, showed lesser anxiety, suffered less intense pain, and required lower strength pain medication, than those shown abstract scenes or no image at all. Economic benefits of lower cost of pain medication, reduced length of stay, and increased patient and staff satisfaction, can be extrapolated from such studies and strengthen the case for taking an evidence-based approach.
Unfortunately, the critical importance of Evidence-based Art programs has not yet been fully appreciated within the industry....
While experienced art consultants have the ability to provide aesthetically pleasing artwork consisting of pretty, local pictures, the insight into whether this aesthetic is appropriate for healthcare populations is often missing. Given the evidence on the therapeutic effect of using appropriate art (discussed above), this could be a critical oversight.
Yet another aspect of evidence that is relevant, in addition to the therapeutic benefit of art, relates to how presence and quality of art can effect patient/visitor perception of the quality of care at the hospital, act as a de-stressor for staff, have an impact on the branding of the hospital, serve as a point of focus and discussion for visitors, and of course, add to the overall appeal of the visual environment (these themes are emergent from a 2007 post-occupancy evaluation of the art program at MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston). Artwork is often the most visible and noticeable aspect of the visual environment and this increases its potential impact on patients/ staff/ visitors, and in the final analysis, the economic bottom-line at the hospital.
There are well-researched guidelines in place today for appropriate healthcare art based on rigorous research findings, which can be implemented, creatively, by experienced art consultants. Ulrich and Gilpin’s chapter on Healing Arts, in Frampton’s Putting Patients First, is one of the most comprehensive resources and recommends the use of
- Waterscapes (Calm or Non-turbulent Water),
- Landscapes (with visual depth or open foreground, trees with broad canopy, Savannah Landscapes, verdant Vegetation, or positive cultural artifacts),
- Flowers (familiar, healthy and fresh, in natural settings with open foreground), and
- Figurative Art (depicting emotionally positive faces, diverse and leisurely in nature).
While these guidelines are in place today, an evidence-based art consultant has the onus of creative but conscientious interpretation, in order to ensure that the most appropriate art for the facility is chosen while maintaining a standard of visual appeal that is befitting to the hospital. Furthermore, there is little known on art for special populations, or different ethnicities, and mere prescriptive adherence to guidelines cannot suffice.
In the end, commitment to an Evidence-based Art program entails going the step beyond the implementation of existing guidelines, to improving and updating guidelines towards the maximum impact art can have on improving the healthcare environment.
BY KATHY HATHORN AND UPALI NANDA
Published in FacilityCare Magazine. Vol 12. Number 3. May/June 2007
Kathy Hathorn is the CEO of American Art Resources.
Upali Nanda PhD is Vice President and Director of Research at American
Art Resources. American Art Resources is the largest art consulting
firm in the United States working exclusively with the healthcare
industry. It is one of only two Art Consulting firm conducting original
research on Evidence-based Design. The other firm is Aesthetics based
in San Diego.
May Day 8249 (at the top of this post) is an image that fits some of the criteria for Evidence-based Art.
I am intrigued by how images of art in a health care center can help and impact healing for people.
I have also had a lot of personal experience in drawing my way through difficult health care moments, or moment of pain and physical challenge. I notice that by drawing through these moments, by being in the moment through drawing unusual answers emerge, pain is lessened and one finds a kind of calm solace and clarity, not found before.
Posted by: Anita White | July 27, 2009 at 05:55 PM
Wow, the more I read about this the more excited I get as an artist. This visual-type therapy has been on my mind for about 3 months--then to find all this information (and research)is wonderful "I'm eating it up"!
Lorna Effler
revelation artist
www.revelationart.org
Posted by: Lorna Effler | August 09, 2009 at 11:46 PM
The concept of evidence based art for healthcare environments is a giant step in the healing process. Medicine, too often is geared to treating symptoms rather than illness. Evidence based art has been shown to help people heal. It addresses the illness rather than drug treating the symptoms.
Bill Fields www.2soaringhearts.com
Posted by: www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000260057848 | October 08, 2009 at 08:28 PM