Although there is a growing body of literature describing the benefits of creative arts in health care, research in this area is limited. This article describes an exploratory qualitative research study that examines the potential benefits of an arts program on an inpatient oncology unit located in a major medical center in New England. Semistructured interviews of seven patients and seven nurses who cared for these patients were conducted following participation in an established arts program. Benefits included improved patient coping with pain, improved nurse-patient communication, and improved attitude toward hospitalization.
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