The use of Arts-Based Research in Chronic Pain: A Scoping Review

Background As an emerging approach, arts-based research holds potential to advance understanding of the complex and multidimensional experiences of chronic pain and means of communicating this experiential evidence. This scoping review aimed to map and explore the extent of arts-based research in ch...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Sophie J. Harasymchuk, A. Fuchsia Howard, Heather Noga, Mary T. Kelly, Paul J. Yong
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Taylor & Francis Group 2024-12-01
Series:Canadian Journal of Pain
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/24740527.2024.2352876
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1850115615418744832
author Sophie J. Harasymchuk
A. Fuchsia Howard
Heather Noga
Mary T. Kelly
Paul J. Yong
author_facet Sophie J. Harasymchuk
A. Fuchsia Howard
Heather Noga
Mary T. Kelly
Paul J. Yong
author_sort Sophie J. Harasymchuk
collection DOAJ
description Background As an emerging approach, arts-based research holds potential to advance understanding of the complex and multidimensional experiences of chronic pain and means of communicating this experiential evidence. This scoping review aimed to map and explore the extent of arts-based research in chronic non-cancer pain, understand the rationale behind using arts-based research methods, and identify directions for future research.Methods Databases PsycINFO, MEDLINE, EMBASE, and CINAHL were searched for eligible English-language articles from inception to November 2022. Out of 1321 article titles and abstracts screened for eligibility, 18 articles underwent full-text screening, with 14 ultimately meeting all inclusion criteria. We conducted a narrative synthesis of data extracted from the 14 reviewed articles.Results The review articles focused on a wide range of chronic non-cancer pain conditions, with 12/14 employing qualitative methods (86%), one repeated measures experimental design, and another a multiphase, multimethod design. Seven articles described the use of drawing, painting, or mixed-media artwork; four used photography; two used body mapping; and one used e-book creation. The rationale for arts-based research included exploring and better understanding patients’ experiences with chronic non-cancer pain, constructing an intervention, and investigating or validating a clinical tool. Nine articles reported that their arts-based research methods produced unintended therapeutic benefits for participants. Recommendations for future research included using arts-based research to better understand and communicate with patients and providers, exploring convergence with art therapy, and designing creative and flexible multiphased studies involving collaboration across disciplines.Conclusions Despite the wide variation in sample and art modalities across reviewed articles, arts-based methods were considered suitable and highly effective for investigating chronic non-cancer pain.
format Article
id doaj-art-e8e810405fe7498f98699f8fddde31d0
institution OA Journals
issn 2474-0527
language English
publishDate 2024-12-01
publisher Taylor & Francis Group
record_format Article
series Canadian Journal of Pain
spelling doaj-art-e8e810405fe7498f98699f8fddde31d02025-08-20T02:36:31ZengTaylor & Francis GroupCanadian Journal of Pain2474-05272024-12-018110.1080/24740527.2024.2352876The use of Arts-Based Research in Chronic Pain: A Scoping ReviewSophie J. Harasymchuk0A. Fuchsia Howard1Heather Noga2Mary T. Kelly3Paul J. Yong4Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, CanadaSchool of Nursing, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, CanadaWomen’s Health Research Institute, British Columbia Women’s Hospital & Health Centre, Vancouver, British Columbia, CanadaSchool of Nursing, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, CanadaDepartment of Obstetrics & Gynecology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, CanadaBackground As an emerging approach, arts-based research holds potential to advance understanding of the complex and multidimensional experiences of chronic pain and means of communicating this experiential evidence. This scoping review aimed to map and explore the extent of arts-based research in chronic non-cancer pain, understand the rationale behind using arts-based research methods, and identify directions for future research.Methods Databases PsycINFO, MEDLINE, EMBASE, and CINAHL were searched for eligible English-language articles from inception to November 2022. Out of 1321 article titles and abstracts screened for eligibility, 18 articles underwent full-text screening, with 14 ultimately meeting all inclusion criteria. We conducted a narrative synthesis of data extracted from the 14 reviewed articles.Results The review articles focused on a wide range of chronic non-cancer pain conditions, with 12/14 employing qualitative methods (86%), one repeated measures experimental design, and another a multiphase, multimethod design. Seven articles described the use of drawing, painting, or mixed-media artwork; four used photography; two used body mapping; and one used e-book creation. The rationale for arts-based research included exploring and better understanding patients’ experiences with chronic non-cancer pain, constructing an intervention, and investigating or validating a clinical tool. Nine articles reported that their arts-based research methods produced unintended therapeutic benefits for participants. Recommendations for future research included using arts-based research to better understand and communicate with patients and providers, exploring convergence with art therapy, and designing creative and flexible multiphased studies involving collaboration across disciplines.Conclusions Despite the wide variation in sample and art modalities across reviewed articles, arts-based methods were considered suitable and highly effective for investigating chronic non-cancer pain.https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/24740527.2024.2352876Arts-based researcharts-informed researchchronic painpersistent painlong-term pain
spellingShingle Sophie J. Harasymchuk
A. Fuchsia Howard
Heather Noga
Mary T. Kelly
Paul J. Yong
The use of Arts-Based Research in Chronic Pain: A Scoping Review
Canadian Journal of Pain
Arts-based research
arts-informed research
chronic pain
persistent pain
long-term pain
title The use of Arts-Based Research in Chronic Pain: A Scoping Review
title_full The use of Arts-Based Research in Chronic Pain: A Scoping Review
title_fullStr The use of Arts-Based Research in Chronic Pain: A Scoping Review
title_full_unstemmed The use of Arts-Based Research in Chronic Pain: A Scoping Review
title_short The use of Arts-Based Research in Chronic Pain: A Scoping Review
title_sort use of arts based research in chronic pain a scoping review
topic Arts-based research
arts-informed research
chronic pain
persistent pain
long-term pain
url https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/24740527.2024.2352876
work_keys_str_mv AT sophiejharasymchuk theuseofartsbasedresearchinchronicpainascopingreview
AT afuchsiahoward theuseofartsbasedresearchinchronicpainascopingreview
AT heathernoga theuseofartsbasedresearchinchronicpainascopingreview
AT marytkelly theuseofartsbasedresearchinchronicpainascopingreview
AT pauljyong theuseofartsbasedresearchinchronicpainascopingreview
AT sophiejharasymchuk useofartsbasedresearchinchronicpainascopingreview
AT afuchsiahoward useofartsbasedresearchinchronicpainascopingreview
AT heathernoga useofartsbasedresearchinchronicpainascopingreview
AT marytkelly useofartsbasedresearchinchronicpainascopingreview
AT pauljyong useofartsbasedresearchinchronicpainascopingreview