Creative Arts Therapy in Patient Care: The Perspectives of Clinicians in a Nigerian Tertiary Institution

Aim: To assess the level of awareness and perceptions of Creative Arts Therapy (CAT) among practicing Nigerian clinicians in Obafemi Awolowo University, Teaching Hospital Complex (OAUTHC) Ile-Ife with a view to determining their willingness to incorporate CAT as an adjunctive tool in their routine patient care.

Methodology: A Cross-sectional study carried out at the general outpatient department, medical outpatient department, Surgical outpatient department and Dental Hospital units of OAUTHC between April 2018 and September 2019. One hundred participants were selected using simple random method from the pool of clinicians. Data were collected from the participants using self-administered structured questionnaire. Data were analyzed using STATA 14 statistical software.

Results: A total of 100 clinicians participated, 46% male 54% female. Their average age was 23.9 2.1years. Seventy-one (71%) were medical practitioner while 29(29%) were dentist. Resident doctors made up 70% of respondents while 30% were consultants. As a necessary adjunctive tool, about one-third 31(31%) strongly agreed, 42(42%) agreed while only 1(1%) participant disagreed. Dance was chosen as the most relevant art to clinical practice by 36(36%) of respondents. Significant improvements by CAT on patients’ prognosis was strongly agreed with by 36(36%), 50(50%) agreed, 18(18%) were indifferent. The majority of respondents attributed lack of available institutions offering Creative Art Therapy courses a major hindrance to its clinical application. The majority 90(90%) of clinicians agreed to the possible incorporation of Creative Art Therapy into the Nigerian healthcare system. Nine participants (9%) strongly agree to prescribe art therapy if such services are readily available in Nigerian healthcare system, 62(62%) agree, 25(25%) were indifferent while 4(4%) disagreed.

Conclusion: This study showed that a larger percentage of clinicians, claimed awareness of Art therapy being used as an adjunctive tool in patient care, and believes in its therapeutic benefits. Lack of facilities was identified as an obstacle to the use of art therapy in patient care.