The art of being healthy: a qualitative study to develop a thematic framework for understanding the relationship between health and the arts

Objective In recent years the health–arts nexus has received increasing attention; however, the relationship is not well understood and the extent of possible positive, negative and unintended outcomes is unknown. Guided by the biopsychosocial model of health and theories of social epidemiology, the...

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Main Authors: Matthew Knuiman, Peter Wright, Michael Rosenberg, Christina R Davies
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMJ Publishing Group 2014-04-01
Series:BMJ Open
Online Access:https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/4/4/e004790.full
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author Matthew Knuiman
Peter Wright
Michael Rosenberg
Christina R Davies
author_facet Matthew Knuiman
Peter Wright
Michael Rosenberg
Christina R Davies
author_sort Matthew Knuiman
collection DOAJ
description Objective In recent years the health–arts nexus has received increasing attention; however, the relationship is not well understood and the extent of possible positive, negative and unintended outcomes is unknown. Guided by the biopsychosocial model of health and theories of social epidemiology, the aim of this study was to develop a framework pertaining to the relationship between arts engagement and population health that included outcomes, confounders and effect modifiers. A health–arts framework is of value to researchers seeking to build the evidence base; health professionals interested in understanding the health–arts relationship, especially those who use social prescribing for health promotion or to complement treatments; in teaching medical, nursing and health-science students about arts outcomes, as well as artists and health professionals in the development of policy and programmes.Design A qualitative study was conducted. Semistructured interviews were analysed thematically.Setting Western Australia.Participants 33 Western Australian adults (18+ years). Participants were randomly selected from a pool of general population nominees who engaged in the arts for enjoyment, entertainment or as a hobby (response rate=100%).Results A thematic analysis was conducted using QSR-NVivo10. The resulting framework contained seven outcome themes and 63 subthemes. Three themes specifically related to health, that is, mental, social and physical health, while economic, knowledge, art and identity outcomes were classified as health determinants. Within each theme, positive, negative and unintended outcomes (subthemes) were identified and categorised as relating to the individual and/or to the community. A list of confounding and/or effect modifying factors, related to both the arts and health, was identified.Conclusions Given the increasing pressure on health resources, the arts have the potential to assist in the promotion of health and healing. This framework expands on current knowledge, further defines the health–arts relationship and is a step towards the conceptualisation of a causal health–arts model.
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spelling doaj-art-e4c9e85eddb94fa9bd74357b5d4928a12025-02-11T21:15:13ZengBMJ Publishing GroupBMJ Open2044-60552014-04-014410.1136/bmjopen-2014-004790The art of being healthy: a qualitative study to develop a thematic framework for understanding the relationship between health and the artsMatthew Knuiman0Peter Wright1Michael Rosenberg2Christina R Davies3School of Population and Global Health, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, AustraliaRadiology, University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust, Plymouth, UKSchool of Human Sciences, University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, AustraliaSchool of Population Health and School of Sport Science, Exercise & Health (M431), The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia, AustraliaObjective In recent years the health–arts nexus has received increasing attention; however, the relationship is not well understood and the extent of possible positive, negative and unintended outcomes is unknown. Guided by the biopsychosocial model of health and theories of social epidemiology, the aim of this study was to develop a framework pertaining to the relationship between arts engagement and population health that included outcomes, confounders and effect modifiers. A health–arts framework is of value to researchers seeking to build the evidence base; health professionals interested in understanding the health–arts relationship, especially those who use social prescribing for health promotion or to complement treatments; in teaching medical, nursing and health-science students about arts outcomes, as well as artists and health professionals in the development of policy and programmes.Design A qualitative study was conducted. Semistructured interviews were analysed thematically.Setting Western Australia.Participants 33 Western Australian adults (18+ years). Participants were randomly selected from a pool of general population nominees who engaged in the arts for enjoyment, entertainment or as a hobby (response rate=100%).Results A thematic analysis was conducted using QSR-NVivo10. The resulting framework contained seven outcome themes and 63 subthemes. Three themes specifically related to health, that is, mental, social and physical health, while economic, knowledge, art and identity outcomes were classified as health determinants. Within each theme, positive, negative and unintended outcomes (subthemes) were identified and categorised as relating to the individual and/or to the community. A list of confounding and/or effect modifying factors, related to both the arts and health, was identified.Conclusions Given the increasing pressure on health resources, the arts have the potential to assist in the promotion of health and healing. This framework expands on current knowledge, further defines the health–arts relationship and is a step towards the conceptualisation of a causal health–arts model.https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/4/4/e004790.full
spellingShingle Matthew Knuiman
Peter Wright
Michael Rosenberg
Christina R Davies
The art of being healthy: a qualitative study to develop a thematic framework for understanding the relationship between health and the arts
BMJ Open
title The art of being healthy: a qualitative study to develop a thematic framework for understanding the relationship between health and the arts
title_full The art of being healthy: a qualitative study to develop a thematic framework for understanding the relationship between health and the arts
title_fullStr The art of being healthy: a qualitative study to develop a thematic framework for understanding the relationship between health and the arts
title_full_unstemmed The art of being healthy: a qualitative study to develop a thematic framework for understanding the relationship between health and the arts
title_short The art of being healthy: a qualitative study to develop a thematic framework for understanding the relationship between health and the arts
title_sort art of being healthy a qualitative study to develop a thematic framework for understanding the relationship between health and the arts
url https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/4/4/e004790.full
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