Chinese Poem Writing for Improving Mental Wellbeing

Hong Kong Metropolitan University

Status: Enrolling

Conditions: Happiness; Well-Being, Psychological

Treatments: Behavioral: Poem writing

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT06581952

HE-SF2024/19

Details and patient eligibility

About

This research proposal aims to explore the impact of poem writing on the well-being of adult volunteers serving patients recovering from mental illness in Hong Kong. The research design was a single-arm intervention study with 30 participants. The intervention consists of two sessions of poem writing, each lasting for 3 hours, led by experienced Chinese teachers or drama directors. The themes of the poems will focus on accomplishment, joy, and gratitude. The primary outcomes are mental well-being and happiness, measured using the Short Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-being Scale and a single-item happiness scale. Feasibility outcomes include recruitment rate, retention rate, and acceptability of the interventions. Secondary outcomes include depressive symptoms, anxiety, interest in poem writing, perceived benefits after the activity, and the number of successfully written poems. The proposal also includes plans for in-depth interviews with participants to gather qualitative data. The results will be analyzed descriptively and narratively, with no efficacy statistical tests due to the nature of this feasibility study. The proposal highlights the potential of poem writing as a therapeutic tool for volunteers serving patients recovering from mental illness, enhancing their overall well-being.

Full description

This research proposal aims to explore the impact of poem writing on the well-being of adult volunteers serving patients recovering from mental illness in Hong Kong.The research design was a single-arm intervention study with 30 participants. The intervention consists of two sessions of poem writing, each lasting for 3 hours, led by experienced Chinese teachers or drama directors. The themes of the poems will focus on accomplishment, joy, and gratitude.

The primary outcomes are mental well-being and happiness, measured using the Short Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-being Scale and a single-item happiness scale. Feasibility outcomes include recruitment rate, retention rate, and acceptability of the interventions. Secondary outcomes include depressive symptoms, anxiety, interest in poem writing, perceived benefits after the activity, and the number of successfully written poems.

Moreover, the proposal includes plans for in-depth interviews with participants to gather qualitative data. The results will be analyzed descriptively and narratively, with no efficacy statistical tests due to the nature of this feasibility study.

Apart from that, the process evaluation will be done by the instructors after the end of the second class, including the teachers, speakers and the leaders of each group. This act aims to evaluate the effectiveness of using the app in creating and writing poems, as well as the feelings after class on the instructors. An evaluation analysis will be made after the collection of data.

The proposal underscores the potential of poem writing as a therapeutic tool for volunteers serving patients recovering from mental illness, enhancing their overall well-being. Poem writing not only allows volunteers to express their thoughts, emotions, and experiences, but also enhances their self-esteem by validating their feelings and providing a sense of accomplishment. Volunteers working with individuals recovering from mental illness often encounter intense emotions. Writing poems allows them to channel these emotions constructively, preventing burnout and fostering resilience. Furthermore, the act of creating poems can be joyful and fulfilling. Volunteers experience a sense of flow, where time seems to disappear as they immerse themselves in the creative process. Lastly, incorporating poem writing into volunteer programs can be a powerful tool for enhancing both the volunteers' and the patients' well-being, self-esteem, and emotional resilience. Volunteers can find solace, connection, and purpose through their poetic expressions, ultimately benefiting both themselves and the individuals they serve.

Enrollment: 30 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18+ years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Volunteers serving for people recovering from mental illness or other community residents
• Aged 18 years old and above
• Able to understand Cantonese and read Chinese

Exclusion criteria

• Physically or mentally unable to communicate
• Unwilling to participate or give consent
• Being involved in other similar activities or research

Trial design

Primary purpose: Health Services Research

Allocation: N/A

Interventional model: Single Group Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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30 participants in 1 patient group

Two poem writing sessions

Experimental group

Description:

The intervention consists of two sessions of poem writing. Each session lasts for 3 hours. The instructors for each session will include two experienced Chinese teachers or drama directors from Bestreben Drama Association Limited. Adherence to the protocol will be evaluated by two independent reviewers.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Poem writing