Impact of Art Therapy on Self-Reported Pain and Anxiety Scores of Patients Waiting to Be Seen in the Emergency Department

Summary

The objective of this research is to assess the effects of engaging in coloring activities on patients' self-reported pain and anxiety scores while they wait to be seen by a physician in an emergency department (ED). The current literature on patient visits in the ED highlights the significance of anxiety, stress, and frustration in patient experiences, especially when accounting for long wait times before the physician-patient encounter. The study will address this common problem by looking at the potential impact of nature-themed or geometric shape coloring activities on the ED patient experience as it relates to self-reported anxiety and pain scores. Given that long wait times are increasingly being reported across the country, this study may offer a possible meaningful low-budget, low-resource intervention which could be offered to patients.

Eligibility

Age range

18+ years

Sex

All

Healthy volunteers

Yes

Interventions

• Behavioral
  Nature Coloring Packet

  Coloring packet containing nature scenes

• Behavioral
  Geometric Shape Coloring Packet

  Coloring packet containing geometric shapes

• Behavioral
  Activity Book

  Pages containing word searches, connect the dots, etc.

• Behavioral
  Blank Paper and Pencil

  Blank sheets of paper and a pencil.

Location