Although, in academic community of art therapy, studies, with the aim of identifying clients' unique and subjective experiences, applying the qualitative research methods have increased overwhelmingly, attempts to synthesize or comprehensively unders...
Although, in academic community of art therapy, studies, with the aim of identifying clients' unique and subjective experiences, applying the qualitative research methods have increased overwhelmingly, attempts to synthesize or comprehensively understand the results of these studies have been very limited. In particular, there has been no qualitative meta-synthesis research related to art therapy in hospice and palliative care, accordingly, the purpose of this study was to derive insightful and comprehensive results through qualitative meta-synthesis. The results are expected to demonstrate the effectiveness of art therapy in hospice and palliative care, and to collect basic data necessary for the development of manuals to provide systematic and high-quality art therapy in hospice and palliative care.
For the purpose, six qualitative studies on art therapy experiences of hospice & palliative care patients and their families were selected, and the qualitative meta-synthesis method developed by Noblit & Hare (1988) was followed. In the analysis, six synthetic themes and 16 descriptive themes were derived.
The synthetic themes included <Externalization of inner emotions>, <Pleasure obtained through immersion>, <Role of colors, images, and media experienced by the senses as a catalyst to remind us of the past>, <Realization of the value of love, forgiveness and hope in the finiteness of life>, <Substantive view of my death and separation>, and <Discovery of hope beyond death>. The descriptive themes included <Honest expression of emotion that were difficult to be expressed verbally>, <Recognition of one's self including inner emotion and feeling>, <Discovery of my broken heart and complex emotions toward family, while expressing feeling about family honestly>, <Recognition of positive change of emotions, while experiencing joy of art activity>, <Relief of pain and reduction in stressful situation>, <Satisfaction by looking at color and image made in the process of independent activities and the finished products>, <Experience of “Revival of fragmental memories through images”, “Remembrance of happy time in the past”, and “Reminding of eventful past”>, <Discovery of positive resources in the process of exploring the past, or Reconstruction of the meaning of the past by projecting unfulfilled wishes onto the work>, <Regret and reflection of the past life>, <Acquiring insight into my life, my family, and myself>, <Expression of love and forgiveness to family members that could not be delayed any longer>, <Attempt to overcome the regrets of my unfulfilled wishes or the wishes of my family that I could not fulfill through art work>, <Attempts to express wishes for family members leaving or left behind in the work and to leave traces of one's existence through art activity>, <Being encouraged to face the death of oneself and family members>, <Gratitude and happiness after recognition of the value of the present moment>, and <Comfort due to spiritual growth>.
The conclusion based on the results are as follows:
First, the hospice and palliative care patients and their families experienced, based on ‘expression’ and ‘immersion’ through art, inward gaze and positive evocation of emotions. Second, art therapy, through the experience of ‘retrospection of life’, allowed the discovery of the meaning of life. They recalled the past through the images they encountered in the process of work, or experienced reflection on their lives by giving new meaning to the past or looking at the past from a distance. Third, patients and their families, through art therapy, could look at ‘death’, which was difficult to mention in detail, and gained an insight into life through realization of the value of family, love, and forgiveness. Fourth, hospice and palliative care patients and their families, through art therapy, grew to realize the happiness and gratitude
This study, by applying a qualitative meta-synthesis methodology based on practical purpose, contributed to the deep and comprehensive understanding of the environment and participants of art therapy in hospice and palliative care the specificities of its participants. In addition, it is significant in that death was found to be “The Final Stage of Growth (Kübler-Ross, 1997)” based on the theoretical knowledge of art therapy in hospice and palliative care. It is considered, based on the results, as follows: it is necessary to develop manuals and establish policies to systematically and professionally provide art therapy in hospice and palliative care. In addition, a social structure should be established so that more terminally ill patients and their families gain opportunities for their various difficulties to be cared systematically.