A Pilot Study of Creative Arts Interventions for Neurology Inpatients

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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The purpose of the study is to assess the feasibility of a Creative Artists Program intervention with epilepsy and headache patients admitted to Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center for care by the Department of Neurology.

Detailed Description
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Qualifying patients admitted to Epilepsy monitoring or Headache treatment will be approached for participation in the study. Patients who consent to the study will be given a chance to work with one of three creative artists (visual artist, creative writer, therapeutic musician). The artist will be selected according to a pre-determined schedule, and the arts intervention may last up to 90 minutes. Subjects will be asked to complete study questionnaires before and after the arts intervention.

Official Title
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A Pilot Study of Creative Arts Interventions for Neurology Inpatients in the Epilepsy Monitoring Unit and the Headache Service

Conditions
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Epilepsy, Migraine

Intervention / Treatment
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* Other: Art Intervention


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Age > or = 18 years Diagnosis of refractory chronic epilepsy, status migrainosus, or chronic daily headache Elective admission to the Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center Epilepsy monitoring unit or Headache service Capable of giving informed consent Exclusion Criteria: Active psychiatric illness that prohibits safe visitation by artists Impairment of vision or hearing that would prohibit able to participate with participation in instructions necessary for the interventions. Active general medical condition that would impair consciousness.

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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No

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Other
Intervention Model: Single Group Assignment
Masking: None (Open Label)


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Other: Artist Intervention<br>One of the three artists (visual artist, music therapist, creative writer) will work with subjects for up to 90 minutes. | Other: Art Intervention<br>* Type of artist intervention will be determined by the subject and the assigned artist.<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Feasibility of conducting a creative arts intervention study | The feasibility of the creative intervention will be determined by the completion rates of the initial intervention attempts. If less than 50% of patients complete the intervention it will be deemed unfeasible in the current format. | Through study completion, approximately 1 year | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Change in patient anxiety before and after the intervention | Change in anxiety level will be calculated, based on patient questionnaire responses, following the creative intervention. | Each patient will be assessed at baseline (Day 1) and after the intervention (approximately Day 3 - 21). | 
| Change in patient distress before and after the intervention | Change in distress level will be calculated, based on patient questionnaire responses, following the creative intervention. | Each patient will be assessed at baseline (Day 1) and after the intervention (approximately Day 3 - 21). | 
| Change in patient depression before and after the intervention | Change in depression level will be calculated, based on patient questionnaire responses, following the creative intervention. | Each patient will be assessed at baseline (Day 1) and after the intervention (approximately Day 3 - 21). | 
| Change in frequency of as-needed pain medication use | As-needed pain medication utilization will be evaluated following the creative arts intervention through subject discharge. | Each patient as-needed medication use will be assessed after the arts intervention and until discharge from the hospital (approximately Day 3 - 21). | 
| Length of hospital stay | Length of hospital stay will be calculated. | Each patient's admission duration (approximately 3 - 21 Days). |