The Effect of Art Therapy in Patients Undergoing Colorectal Cancer

The Effect of Art Therapy on Pain, Anxiety, Hope and Life Satisfaction in Patients Undergoing Colorectal Cancer Surgery: A Randomized Controlled Trial

With the development of modern techniques, art has become important in the provision of health services and has enabled individuals to better recognise themselves and their surroundings. The World Health Organisation states that art has an important role in improving health, preventing and treating diseases. Art therapy is a therapy method that includes various art branches such as music, painting, sculpture and is especially applied to individuals with oncological diseases. The place of art therapy in solving the negative biopsychosocial problems experienced by these individuals before and after surgery is increasing day by day. Although there are studies on art therapy in the literature, there is no study on art therapy after colorectal cancer surgery. Therefore, in this study, it is aimed to examine the effect of art therapy applied to patients undergoing colorectal surgery on pain, anxiety, hope and life satisfaction. The population of the study will consist of patients who underwent colorectal cancer surgery in Marmara University Pendik Training and Research Hospital General Surgery Service between December 2024 and June 2025, and the sample will consist of 96 patients who meet the research criteria and accept to participate in the study. Patients participating in the study will be divided into two equal groups as intervention and control group. In the preoperative period, the patients in the intervention and control groups will be informed about the study, written and verbal consent will be obtained from the participants who accept the study, and the patients will be asked to answer the Patient Identification Form, Herth Hope Scale and Life Satisfaction Scale. The haemodynamic parameters of the patients in the intervention group will be recorded at 14:00 on the 1st, 2nd and 3rd postoperative days, the art therapy activity they have determined will be applied for 40 minutes and the data will be obtained using the Visual Analogue Scale, State Anxiety Inventory, Herth Hope Scale and Satisfaction with Life Scale. Patients in the control group will receive only routine ward care and data will be collected on the same days and hours as the intervention group. The data obtained will be analysed with appropriate statistical methods using SPSS Windows 22.0 software. As a result of the study, it is thought that there will be an improvement in the pain, anxiety, hope and life satisfaction of the participants.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Between the ages of 18 and 70,
• Planned colorectal cancer surgery,
• Not receiving neoadjuvant treatment (chemotherapy, radiotherapy),
• No diagnosed psychiatric disorder,
• No history of anxiolytic drug use,
• Patients who volunteered to participate in the study

Exclusion Criteria:

• Communication difficulties,
• Mental deficiency,
• Patients with dysfunction or disease in their upper extremities that may prevent them from performing art therapy practices