Creative Arts Therapy Programs for Pediatric Oncology Patients: A Comparative Case Study

Abstract

Hospital offered creative arts therapy programs can help pediatric oncology patients to understand and express their feelings about hospitalization and to better cope with the disease and treatment process. This research seeks to discover what types of hospital offered creative arts therapy programs currently exist, to provide quality of life benefits to pediatric oncology patients and their families. This research project consists of a comparative case study conducted with the Children's Cancer Association's Music Rx program at Doernbecher Children's Hospital in Portland, Oregon and with The Ponzio Creative Arts Therapy Program at The Children's Hospital in Denver, Colorado, a review of creative arts therapy literature, and interviews with the creative arts therapists, program coordinators and one Registered Nurse at The Children's Hospital.