The Effect of Art Therapy in Women with Gynecologic Cancer: A Systematic Review

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the evidence of art therapy on the psychological outcome, quality of life (QOL), and cancer-related symptoms in women with gynecological cancer. METHODS: A systematic literature search was conducted. The randomized controlled trials, quasiexperimental studies, case reports, and qualitative studies were all included. RESULT: 1,587 articles were retrieved. A total of 9 articles met the inclusion criteria. The existing studies provided initial evidence to suggest that art therapy may benefit gynecological cancer patients with respect to improving psychological outcome and QOL, reducing fatigue related to cancer, and improving subjective overall health condition. However, the quality of the current evidence limits the efficacy of these findings. CONCLUSION: Research on art therapy of gynecologic cancer patients is insufficient. We cannot draw the conclusion that art therapy benefits gynecological cancer patients in the psychological outcome, QOL, and cancer-related symptoms. More rigorous research is needed.