Role of Theatre as Psychological Support in Cancer Patient

Abstract

Background: The application of expressive forms of art in oncology is considered an integral part of patient care and the theatre seems to be a powerful resource for training, personal growth and rehabilitation. At the Medical Oncology Department of “S.G. Moscati” Hospital in Avellino, within a humanization program of cancer care a rehabilitation project of theatre therapy for cancer patients has been carried out for 8 years. The project has been designed in a holistic view of the complex and multidimensional care. Methods: All cancer patients with at least 1-year of life expectation referred at the Division of Medical Oncology, have been selected for inclusion. Enrolled patients are identified by the psycho-oncologists with clinical and motivational interviews. The first phase is characterized by the selection of potentially eligible patients. After the interviews, the selected patients complete a registration form and receive the MAC entryquestionnaire. The second phase involves the formation of the group and the 'start-up of the workshops. It uses pre-expressive techniques and post-expressive techniques. All the activities are characterized by the group mode. Is very important the presence of men in the group. Results: Quantitative Analysis: As the therapy theater experience of our U.O. came in 2016 to the 'eighth edition of the project it has been decided to make an assessment of half of the course and evaluate the analysis results for the fourth edition. The sample consists of 10 women with an average age of 52 (Minimum age 36 - maximum age 68), of which 9 were suffering from breast cancer and an ovarian cancer and 3 males of average age of 46, of a 30-year boy with a testicular cancer and two others of 50 and 59 respectively with seminoma testicular with colon carcinoma. All patients gave their Informed Consent before starting the theatre therapy activities. Qualitative Analysis: From semi.-structured interview analysis of patients who participated in the theater therapy it emerges that participation to these forms of art, leads to a quality of life improvement, but also to the acceptance of the disease and medical treatment. Conclusion: From the analysis of the results of the experience of the year 2013, which is in the middle of our path, a substantial improvement in the style of adaptation to patient disease who took part in the theater therapy emerges and, in particular, this result appears to be more evident after the final performance.