Creative Arts Therapy on Body Image, Self-esteem, Anxiety and Depression in Post-Treatment Prostate Cancer Patients

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University

Status: Not yet enrolling

Conditions: Creative Arts Therapy; Prostate Cancer

Treatments: Other: Guided therapy group; Other: Creative arts therapy

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT07015866

22231641

Details and patient eligibility

About

The goal of this clinical study is to assess the feasibility of implementing a creative arts therapy intervention of drawing and painting in Hong Kong prostate cancer patients and preliminarily examine the effects of this intervention on prostate cancer patients' health outcomes via a two-armed randomized controlled trial. The two arms will be (i) the creative arts therapy intervention group and (ii) a active control group.

Participants will join five sessions. Sessions will start with a 10-15-minute rapport-building discussion and continue with a 60-minute intervention. Session themes are as follows: 'bridge drawing', 'analogue drawing', 'life-sized body outline', a 'free session' to allow patients to express their feelings, and a final review with the art therapist in which all sessions will be brought to a conclusion. Each session will follow a three-step process of psychodynamic model to ensure the optimal effect of the intervention. The interventions will be held at private room at hospital.

Enrollment: 72 estimated patients

Sex: Male

Ages: 18+ years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Adult participants diagnosed with localised prostate cancer, regardless of the stage and age 18 years or older;
• are not currently receiving active therapy, including chemotherapy, radiotherapy or surgical treatment, by the time of the study or completed treatment more than one year ago and are not on any active treatment;
• were being followed up by the urology team or Department of Surgery at the Chinese University of Hong Kong;
• are willing to participate in the study;
• are able to read Chinese and communicate in Cantonese;
• are physically able to attend and complete art therapy sessions;
• do not have significant comorbidities, including cerebrovascular accident, severe depression, or dementia that could affect their ability to participate in the study;
• signed an informed consent form.

Exclusion criteria

• Adult participants diagnosed with a mixed type of terminal cancer;
• are undergoing active therapy;
• have participated in other art therapy interventions;
• have physical issues preventing them from holding a pen;
• have a mental status and/or communication problem that might compromise their capacity to give informed consent;
• have significant comorbidities such as cerebrovascular accident, severe depression, or dementia, as determined by standardized screening tools a score of 20-27 on the Patient Health Questionnaire and score 25 or less on the Mini-Mental State Examination.

Trial design

Primary purpose: Supportive Care

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Double Blind

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72 participants in 2 patient groups

Creative arts therapy

Experimental group

Description:

The intervention will be offered throughout five sessions. Session themes are as follows: 'bridge drawing', 'analogue drawing', 'life-sized body outline', a 'free session' to allow patients to express their feelings, and a final review with the art therapist in which all sessions will be brought to a conclusion. The first individual session, 'bridge drawing', will be used to introduce the creative arts therapy approach and to elaborate on this project. The four other sessions will be group-based (with four participants per group), providing a supportive and communal environment where participants can engage in creative expression alongside others who may have had similar experiences or challenges. A session will be conducted each week over five weeks, with each session lasting 60 minutes. All sessions will be conducted in a room in the Urology Centre that has been equipped and prepared for the intervention.

Treatment:

Other: Creative arts therapy

Guided group discussions

Active Comparator group

Description:

Participants will engage in guided group discussions over five sessions. Each session will include a guided discussion focusing on self-care topics such as sleep hygiene, dental hygiene, nutrition, and personal interests and hobbies. The first individual session, 'Sleep hygiene, will be used to educate the participants of the importance of sleep and strategies to improve sleep quality. The four other sessions will be group-based (with four participants per group), focusing on dental hygiene, nutrition, personal interests and hobbies and general well-being and reflection. A session will be conducted each week over five weeks, with each session lasting 60 minutes. All sessions will be conducted in a room in the Urology Centre.

Treatment:

Other: Guided therapy group