Co-creative art processes with patients: A theoretical framework and qualitative study among artists

• Published in: PloS one Vol. 17; no. 4; p. e0266401
• Main Authors: Weeseman, Yvonne, Scherer-Rath, Michael, Christophe, Nirav, Dörr, Henny, Bood, Zarah M, Sprangers, Mirjam A G, Helmich, Esther, van Laarhoven, Hanneke W M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Public Library of Science 07.04.2022; Public Library of Science (PLoS)
• Subjects: Artists; Biology and Life Sciences; Cancer; Contingency; Creative ability; Health aspects; Humans; Integration; Medical diagnosis; Medicine and Health Sciences; Mimesis; Narration; Narratives; Oncology; Patients; Physical Sciences; Psychological aspects; Qualitative Research; Research and Analysis Methods; Social Sciences; Netherlands
• ISSN: 1932-6203; 1932-6203
• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0266401

A cancer diagnosis may be experienced as a contingent life event. Co-creation-in which artists together with patients create a work of art reflecting on aspects of the patients' life story-may be used to support patients to integrate such a contingent life event into their life story. We conducted a qualitative study in which we interviewed 10 professional artists to explore if co-creative art processes could facilitate integration of experiences of contingency in patients. Template analyses were performed in AtlasTi. We identified co-creation as a specific form of support to the process of integration of experiences of contingency. In the formation of a new life narrative, patients transcend the boundaries of their previous life narrative by changing their perspective. Self-transcendence forms a pivotal point in co-creation, which may be helpful for patients to integrate experiences of contingency into their life narratives.