The value of poetry therapy for people in palliative and end of life care

Abstract

Background People in palliative and end of life care often experience issues relating to feelings of loneliness and feeling unable to connect with and express their emptions. This can lead to poorer outcomes for people, and inhibits person centred experiences. Aim To understand the benefits of poetry therapy for people in palliative and end of life care. Methods A narrative review of literature pertinent to the use of poetry with people in palliative and end of life care produced 13 relevant papers, which are presented within this paper. Results Within the literature, 4 key themes emerged: (1) The impact of poetry on the wellbeing of people in palliative and end of life care, (2) the impact of poetry on the wellbeing and confidence of health care professionals, (3) the value of poetry for family members preparing for and coping with bereavement, and (4) The value of poetry in facilitating person centred practices in palliative care. Conclusions Poetry therapy can enable a person-centred culture by promoting feelings of well being for people in palliative care, and is also beneficial for health care professionals and family members.

Art Therapy with the Extent of Health Promotion

“…Birth, death, marriage, harvest or crop ceremonies and religious, spiritual and physical healing rituals were performed with artistic activities. Ancient people made art a part of their lives by singing, dancing, drumming, drawing, or telling stories [10,11]. In a general manner, art has an important contribution to human health.…”

“…Art therapy is a treatment method used in many spiritual, developmental, neurological, mental, and behavioral disorders. Many art therapists agree that the creative process has a healing power itself [8][9][10][11]. For example, a Cochrane review looked at the impact of dance/movement therapy on psychological and physical outcomes in people with cancer.…”

“…Reading and writing poetry positively affect both the personal and interpersonal aspects of the individual. Poetry therapy contributes to becoming clear in the individual's perception of himself and others; increased creativity, self-confidence, and self-expression skills; relieving stress by putting intense emotions on paper; creating new meanings by synthesizing new ideas, insights, and information; to the development of mature coping skills that will enable change in behavior and attitudes [8,11,83]. Poetry is used as a tool for the expression of emotions that are difficult to express.…”

A Look Back and a Path Forward: Poetry's Healing Power during the Pandemic

“…This aspect of poetry is often highlighted in palliative care, as there has been a growing recognition within the field to recognize how poetry can develop person-centered organizations, better train health professionals, and support a patient’s overall well-being (Davies 2018 ; Coulehan and Clary 2005 ). Previous literature review on poetry therapy for patients in palliative and end-of-life care show that poetry facilitates meaningful shared experiences and significantly improves relationships between healthcare providers and patients (Gilmour, Riccobono, and Haraldsdottir 2019 ).…”

Role of literary works in medical education

“…rehabilitacja poudarowa 42 czy opieka paliatywna. 43 Wydaje się oczywiste, że jeżeli poezja ma stanowić jedno z narzędzi terapii, to lekarze, a także pielęgniarki, spędzające najwięcej czasu z chorymi, 44 powinni mieć osobiste doświadczenia z literaturą piękną. 18 Ponadto obcujący z poezją profesjonalista medyczny doskonali interpretację języka pacjenta i jego zachowania, wzmacnia umiejętność oceny nie tylko punktu widzenia chorego, ale i członków jego rodziny, wchodzi w kontrolowane emocjonalne zależności i nabywa zainteresowanie emocjami, docenia refleksję, autorefleksję i intuicję, nazywaną lekceważonym wyróżnikiem wiedzy pielęgniarskiej ("neglected hallmark of nursing knowledge").…”