Researchers from the UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center and the University of Cincinnati developed an art therapy application to help improve quality of life in young adult cancer survivorship patients.

Dr. Soma Sengupta, Division Chief of Neuro-oncology, Vice Chair of Research in the Department of Neurosurgery, and Professor in the Department of Neurology, will lead a study at the UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center using a new art therapy application designed for patients ages 18-24 (AYA) brain tumor survivors at UNC Health.

The study will use established metrics to determine if the newly designed application, ArtCAN Teens, has a positive impact on the young adult age group, specifically on their mental health. Dr. Sengupta collaborated on the development of the application with Dr. Claudia Rebola, Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Programs, Director of the Collaborative for DAAP Research and Innovation, and Professor of Industrial Design at the College of Design, Architecture, Art, and Planning at the University of Cincinnati (UC).

During her time at UC, Dr. Sengupta collaborated on a number of therapy applications, including an adult art therapy tool with Dr. Rebola and Dr. Meera Rastogi. The researchers noted that while physicians naturally focus on treatment and symptom management, a patient’s quality of life is often overlooked and rarely studied. Cancer diagnosis and necessary treatment negatively impacts a patient’s quality of life. “This is not a cancer treatment,” said Dr. Rebola. “It is an addition to treatment to improve their health and well-being.”

After working on tools for adult patients for cancer survivorship, Dr. Sengupta and Dr. Rebola began work on an art therapy application, and adapting it to fit the specific needs of AYA. “My role in the study is overseeing the possibilities of using therapy tools to take care of people’s health and well-being during cancer recovery,” said Dr. Rebola.

The application was designed by the team with Dr. Heekyoung Jung, Associate Professor and Master of Design Program Director at UC. Dr. Jung specializes in the design of information and product systems that simplify human experience with engaging user interfaces empowering humans through creativity and reflective practice.

The team enlisted the help of undergraduate students on UC’s campus, including Megan Sawyer, an undergraduate student who assisted with the concept design and development of the application. Megan helped the team develop an application that would be engaging for patients in her age group. She provided insight for the group on how young adults communicate and express themselves using social media.

Bridget Pemberton-Smith, ATR-BC, ATCS, art therapist and owner of Bridges Art Therapy in Chapel Hill, NC, also assisted with the development of the application and the weekly art therapy prompts. “They sent me some things that they had in mind, and I made suggestions based on my experience working with youth that age,” said Pemberton-Smith.

Before participants in the study begin using the application, each patient will meet with Pemberton-Smith. This will allow her to determine a baseline for each patient. At the end of the six weeks, participants will again meet one-on-one with Pemberton-Smith. Throughout the six weeks, she will be able to track each study participant’s progress in the application. Patients will also complete self-assessments to help researchers further understand the impact of the application.

Art therapy is a creative way for patients to express themselves, process their emotions, and cope with the challenges of cancer. Art therapists work with patients to help them explore and express difficult thoughts and feelings. The application does not intend to replace the role of an art therapist, but rather work as an effective tool that patients can use while working with an art therapist. The application will also allow more patients to access the benefits of art therapy. “We don’t want to replace the human expert therapist,” said Dr. Jung. “We want to keep the therapy in the loop.”

“In our previous small study at the University of Cincinnati funded by the Jejurikar Funds, we did see an improvement in mood with our art therapy interventions in vestibular schwannoma patients, so we are very excited to try this one,” said Dr. Rebola.

The application is a first of its kinds and is designed to lead patients through a series of prompts over the course of six weeks. Each week, participants will get a new prompt and have one week to complete the exercise and virtually submit their art. Prompts will encourage patients to explore different art medians. “Being involved in a multidisciplinary team with colleagues in art and design is an amazing experience,” said Dr. Sengupta. “Creativity in medicine is something that should be nurtured.”

The study is funded by Ian’s Friends Foundation, a nonprofit established by Ian’s parents after his brain tumor diagnosis. Their mission is to fund innovative research focused on the immediate need to develop groundbreaking therapeutic methodologies to treat and cure pediatric brain tumors.

The research team hopes to provide proof of concept to then apply for NIH funding and scale the study, allowing this application to be widely implemented to cancer patients across the country. “This is a great tool, and I’m very thankful for this team doing their parts so we can launch it,” said Dr. Rebola.

Dr. Sengupta is currently doing an online certification in art therapy to better understand the therapy that the AYA patients will undergo. Dr. Sengupta added that she has drawn inspiration from the quote by Anais Nin: “Something is always born of excess: great art was born of great terrors, great loneliness, great inhibitions, instabilities, and it always balances them.”

Dr. Sengupta is currently recruiting patients for the study. Patients ages 18-24 interested in enrolling in the study should contact the Study Manager, Devin McCarthy, at devin_mccarthy@med.unc.edu.

 

Written by Makenzie Hardy, Marketing Coordinator, UNC Health Department of Neurosurgery