The effects of viewing visual artwork on patients, staff, and visitors in healthcare settings: A scoping review

• Published in: PloS one Vol. 20; no. 8; p. e0328215
• Main Authors: Foster, Marcel W., Sanhueza, Cris, Bahr, Elisabeth, Kuo, Jennifer Li-Sheen, Wu, Yaning, Komolafe, Deborah Olaitan, Blanchette, Victoria, Brinza, Tessa, Morgan-Daniel, Jane, Oshodi, Yewande, Sodimu, Kehinde Aniyat, Omuku, Nengi, Akisanya, Ebisan, Trinder, Larissa, Willmoth, Simon, Simpson, Nicola, White, Niamh, Shaw, Tim A., Moyse Fenning, Haley, Runefelt, Anna, Kolnik, Mojca, Pokorn, Marko, Fietje, Nils, Sajnani, Nisha
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: San Francisco Public Library of Science 20.08.2025; Public Library of Science (PLoS)
• Subjects: Analysis; Art works; Arts; Biology and Life Sciences; Grey literature; Health aspects; Health care; Health care reform; Health sciences; Heart rate; Librarians; Medical personnel; Medical students; Medicine and Health Sciences; Mental health; Murals; Patients; Pediatrics; People and places; Research and Analysis Methods; Sculpture; Social Sciences; Subject heading schemes; Viewing; Visual arts; Visual effects; Well being; United Kingdom
• ISSN: 1932-6203; 1932-6203
• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0328215

The integration of visual art in healthcare settings has been demonstrated to contribute to well-being. However, the impact of visual arts in healthcare has been primarily evaluated among patients. Viewing visual art could be a health resource to a greater number of people in healthcare settings, including patients, staff, and visitors. We conducted a scoping review to synthesize literature on the impact of viewing visual artwork among patients, staff, and visitors in healthcare settings related to the reported outcomes of well-being, wellness, and belonging. The review was informed by Arksey and O'Malley and Joanna Briggs Institute frameworks with masked pairs of reviewers. Included studies were in English, with no restrictions on geographical settings or publication dates. Nine academic databases and twelve gray literature sources were searched, in addition to a hand search and global call for submissions. From an initial 25,222 records, 68 publications met inclusion criteria across 20 locations. 35 were peer-reviewed studies and 33 constituted gray literature. Included publications that reported sample sizes reflected a total of 6,006 participants with the majority being patients (3,133) followed by staff (1,343), visitors (32), and other/unspecified participants (996). Reported outcomes for patients indicated that visual arts in hospitals reduced heart rates, improved reported mental health outcomes, increased well-being, and provided a positive distraction. Reported outcomes for healthcare staff included an increased well-being, belonging, and capacity to prioritize patient needs. Reported outcomes for visitors consisted of an improved experience in healthcare environments and increased well-being. Our synthesis of evidence indicates that integration of visual arts within healthcare settings has positive outcomes for its viewers. Our findings are useful to promote the generation of evidence that can reliably inform the design and experience of healthcare environments.