%0 Journal Article
%T Art Therapy to Improve Quality of Life of Cancer Patients and Their Carers in Bangladesh
%A Rumana Dowla
%A Annekathryn Goodman
%A Tahsin Kashem
%J Journal of Cancer Therapy
%P 458-470
%@ 2151-1942
%D 2019
%I Scientific Research Publishing
%R 10.4236/jct.2019.106038
%X <strong>Objective: </strong><span style=\"font-family:&quot;\"><span style=\"font-family:Verdana;\">Art as a therapy helps in reparation and recovery. The aim of this study
was to see the response of the cancer patients and their carers residing in
Bangladesh towards art therapy and the perceived effect of art therapy on their
physical and psychological condition. </span><b><span style=\"font-family:Verdana;\">Method: </span></b><span style=\"font-family:Verdana;\">The study was a record
review study conducted through a cross-sectional descriptive method from July
to November</span></span><span style=\"font-family:&quot;\"> </span><span style=\"font-family:Verdana;\">2018.
Along with the cancer patients, their immediate carers </span><span style=\"font-family:Verdana;\">were</span><span style=\"font-family:Verdana;\"> enrolled in this study since patients and their
carers both suffer from the distress that comes with the diagnosis of cancer.
In-depth interviews and focused group discussion</span><span style=\"font-family:Verdana;\">s</span><span style=\"font-family:&quot;\"><span style=\"font-family:Verdana;\"> of</span><span style=\"font-family:Verdana;\"> art therapy w</span></span><span style=\"font-family:Verdana;\">ere</span><span style=\"font-family:&quot;\"><span style=\"font-family:Verdana;\"> conducted with our study population at BPSCF and
BSMMU. </span><b><span style=\"font-family:Verdana;\">Findings: </span></b><span style=\"font-family:Verdana;\">After art therapy, there was an improvement in sensory
perception and self-perception, physical and psychological condition,
communication and social skills and helped in more personal integration and
built stronger insight among the patients and carers. Majority of the
participants of art therapy felt good and wanted to continue art therapy. </span><b><span style=\"font-family:Verdana;\">Significance
of results:</span></b><span style=\"font-family:Verdana;\"> The results of this study will help to create awareness among
the community about the importance of psychotherapies like art therapy in the
life of the cancer patients an</span></span><span style=\"font-family:&quot;\"><span style=\"font-family:Verdana;\">d their carers. Introducing the concept of art
therapy will also help the public health practitioners to improvise palliative
care services in Bangladesh</span><span style=\"font-family:Verdana;\"> in a very
cost-effective approach</span><span style=\"font-family:Verdana;\">.</span></span>
%K Art Therapy
%K Cancer Care
%K Quality of Life
%K Bangladesh
%U http://www.scirp.org/journal/PaperInformation.aspx?PaperID=93189