Abstract | November 18, 2023

Developing the Community Art Initiative: Artwork Connecting Student Physicians and Patients

Matthew Cole, BA, Medical Student, 3rd Year, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, TN

Wyatt Cole, BA, Medical Student, 3rd Year, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, TN; Michael Libre, BA, Medical Student, 3rd Year, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, TN; Sophie Schellhammer, BA, Medical Student, 3rd Year, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, TN; Camella Carlson, BS, Medical Science Training Program, 3rd Year, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, TN; Lealani Mae Acosta, MD, MPH, FAAN Associate Professor, Clinical Neurology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN; Erin A. Cooke, MD, Residency Program Director, Diagnostic Radiology; Jeffery S. Johns, MD, Executive Medical Director, Physiatry, Pain and Rehabilitation Patient Care Center, Vanderbilt University Medical Center/Nashville, TN

Learning Objectives

  1. Describe the role visual arts play in healthcare environments.

While art is ever-present within hospital corridors, patients rarely, if ever, have the opportunity to select art to decorate their own rooms. Studies have shown that access and exposure to art can positively affect a patient’s qualitative experience in the hospital and, more importantly, on their recovery process. While there has been positive evidence from small observational studies and a few recent “art exposure” based randomized controlled trials (RCTs), only one small RCT to date has attempted to quantify the effect of patient selection of art on the inpatient experience. With the ever-increasing importance of customized care and precision medicine, it will become essential to identify environmental factors leading to the optimal patient experience.

We designed and implemented a pilot program allowing patients to decorate their hospital room with artwork from a catalog of over sixty pieces created by local artists. Success was defined as establishing functional systems for patient identification and enrollment, art distribution and display, and art re-collection. Art was provided by the Nashville Public Library and their Metro Arts Lending Library program.

During the pilot, we enrolled over fifty patients from September 2022 to March 2023. We established a model that could enroll up to 5 patients per week and was primarily limited by the number of available artworks. Patient responses were informally collected during this period; many patients noted that they enjoyed the opportunity to decorate their space and the personal connections created with providers via art.

Based on our successful pilot, we have designed a first-of-its-kind large RCT (the ARTISTE trial) assessing the effect of hospital room art selection for inpatient rehab and palliative care patients. We intend to investigate the effect of enabling patients to choose selected artwork to decorate their hospital room on patients’ perceptions of their experience and health using select PROMIS® measures. Additionally, we plan to assess other factors, including selection vs. allocation of art and patient art genre preference. We hope to begin enrolling patients for the ARTISTE trial in September 2023. This research will offer crucial insights into how art can be used to enhance patient experience and outcomes.

References and Resources

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Posted in: Quality Health Care, Patient Safety, & Best Practices9
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