Arts on prescription can help deliver wellness outcomes

University of NSW Conjoint Professor Chris Poulos and Associate Professor Roslyn Poulos are championing a program where health professionals, including GPs, write prescriptions for their patients to participate in the arts.

With the groundswell of empirical evidence regarding the arts’ positive impact on both physical and mental wellbeing, the pair will be speaking on the concept of Arts on Prescription in Australia at the upcoming International Arts and Health Conference being held at the Art Gallery of NSW next week.

Chris Poulos is head of Research and Aged Care Clinical Services for Hammond Care, one of Australia’s leading providers of aged care, as well as a conjoint professor in the Faculty of Medicine and a consultant physician in rehabilitation medicine.

Roslyn Poulos is a public health physician and a researcher in the field of ageing and health.

Arts on Prescription is based on a UK model, whereby health professionals, including GPs, write prescriptions for their patients to participate in the arts.

Chris Poulos explains “it is always done in association with traditional health care, but it recognises that there is more to achieving health and wellness.

“A prescription is a good reinforcer for the person that their health care professional sees involvement in the arts as an important thing, alongside their traditional health care, in helping them achieve greater wellbeing.”

The program - which culminated with exhibitions in April - targeted people over 65 experiencing a range of health and wellbeing challenges, rather than a single issue.

These included frailty, declining physical function, anxiety, depression, mild cognitive impairment, bereavement, social isolation and/or carer burden.

Groups of six to eight people worked for two hours per week for 10 weeks in the arts area of their choice, with a professional and specially trained artist, using professional-standard materials.

Classes covered visual arts (oil and watercolour, drawing and printmaking), dance and creative movement, music and photography, with many participants signing up for more than one.

The artistic area was not chosen for the participant because engagement was the primary goal, and it was felt that many forms of arts activity would achieve health and wellness targets such as socialisation, movement and creativity.

Data from 139 participants in the program was analysed and followed up with interviews and focus groups to explore people’s experiences anecdotally.

Ros Poulos said there were significant improvements reported from pre- to post-program and statistically significant increases in self-perceived creativity and frequency of creative activity, adding “people said the program had given them a sense of purpose and direction,” she said. “It had also given them a new talent to explore.

“Doing art in a group also gave them something in common, so there was a lovely connection with each other.”

With the theme Mental Health and Resilience through the Arts, the 9th Annual International Arts and Health Conference The Art of Good Health and Wellbeing will be held from 30th October to 1st November.

Click here for more information on the Conference in the Australasian Leisure Management industry Calendar.

Images: Artist Annette Innis running a watercolour workshop for members of the Arts on Prescription community (top) and University of NSW Conjoint Professor Chris Poulos (below).

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