Creative Arts Therapy (CAT) in the Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders
Condition: Cancer
MeSH terms: Hematologic Diseases
Study type: Interventional

Summary: 
      The purpose of the study is to evaluate the effectiveness of Creative Arts Therapy (CAT) on
      pediatric patients undergoing chemotherapy in the Infusion Center at Children's Hospital
      Colorado Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders. Findings from a previous pilot study support
      the hypothesis that CAT may improve quality of life (QOL), resiliency, physical posture, and
      emotional response to pain of pediatric oncology patients undergoing chemotherapy.
    

Detailed description: 
      A repeated measures design will be used with each patient serving as his/her own control. The
      subjects and/or parents will be tested with all instruments before the intervention, and
      approximately every 30 days for no less than 3 months and a maximum participation of 6
      months. Treatment time points will be at least 30 days apart. Because some subjects are not
      scheduled to come into the clinic every 30 days for SOC appointments, they are unable to
      complete 3 sessions of CAT in a 3 month time period. For those subjects who are scheduled to
      come into clinic every 1-2 months for SOC appointments, study participation may take up to 6
      months. This 6 month time period would allow for the completion of 4 different time points of
      CAT.

      The testing will take place in an exam room after vital signs have been completed upon intake
      to the clinic. The trained research assistant, trained RN, or PI will administer the
      questionnaires. The PedsQL includes a subject report (ages 5 and over) and a parent report.
      The Resilience Scale is a self-report and will be used for ages 12 and over. The Faces Scale
      will use parent report for ages less than 5 and self-report for ages 5 and over. In order to
      confirm consistency, the posture measure will be completed by the PI (nurse practitioner) or
      registered nurse on the study after training with the manual included with the inclinometer
      tool.
    

Intervention name(s): Creative Arts Therapy
Intervention type(s): Behavioral
Intervention description(s): The intervention will consist of approximately weekly CAT in the infusion center during cancer therapy. The interventionist is a Master's prepared, licensed dance/movement therapist who is experienced in music and art therapies as well. The CAT includes dance/movement such as playing with a parachute, simple yoga breathing and postures, and work with physioballs. The music includes singing, listening to music, and playing instruments. The art consists of drawing, finger painting, working with clay. The CAT may occur in individual sessions in private infusion rooms, or in groups in the middle of the infusion center. The CAT is not only a distraction, but also a therapeutic process addressing the stressors of cancer and its treatment. The "dose" of CAT will be recorded (number and type of sessions) and will be factored into the analysis.
Intervention model: Single Group Assignment
Intervention model description: The subjects and/or parents will be tested with all instruments before the intervention, and approximately every 30 days for no less than 3 months and a max participation of 6 months. Treatment time points will be at least 30 days apart. For those subjects who are scheduled to come into clinic every 1-2 months for SOC appointments, study participation may take up to 6 months. This 6 month time period would allow for the completion of 4 time points of CAT. The testing will take place in an exam room after vital signs have been completed upon intake. The study staff will administer the questionnaires. The PedsQL includes a subject report (ages 5 and over) and a parent report. The Resilience Scale is a self-report and will be used for ages 12 and over. The Faces Scale will use parent report for ages less than 5 and self-report for ages 5 and over. For consistency, the posture measure will be completed by study staff after training with the manual included with the inclinometer tool.
Masking: None (Open Label)
Primary purpose: Supportive Care