Researchers at University College London in the U.K. are studying whether hospital patients can benefit from handling beautiful or intriguing museum objects.
Researchers at University College London in the U.K. are studying whether hospital patients can benefit from handling beautiful or intriguing museum objects.
Helen Chatterjee, the deputy director of UCL Museums and Collections who is leading the unique two-and-a-half year project, says that there is already a fair bit of research that shows that art programmes in hospitals have significant positive physiological and psychological impacts on patients.
Patients Warned Against Opting for Dolphin 'therapy' to Treat Any Disorder
Researchers have warned people suffering from chronic mental or physical disabilities that they should not opt for a dolphin "healing" experience.
Researchers have warned people suffering from chronic mental or physical disabilities that they should not opt for a dolphin "healing" experience.
The study would involve objects from across UCL's museums, which is everything across the arts, humanities and sciences: archaeological artefacts like Egyptian figurines, a nautiloid shell, a panther skull, etchings, minerals and rocks.
During the study, all the objects will be laid out at the patients' bedside, and they would be invited to select whichever object they want.
Marigold Therapy may Be Effective to Treat Foot Problems in HIV Patients
Extracts of the marigold plant seem to offer an effective treatment for planter warts on the foots of patients infected with human immunodeficiency virus.
Extracts of the marigold plant seem to offer an effective treatment for planter warts on the foots of patients infected with human immunodeficiency virus.
The session can last anywhere from ten minutes to more than an hour.
Advertisements
The Letrozole Therapy Works for Breast Cancer Patients, Long After Stopping Tamoxifen
Anew therapy letrozole to curb the recurrence of breast cancer
Anew therapy letrozole to curb the recurrence of breast cancer
The researchers associated with the project say that they have got quantitative and qualitative data that people participating in a preliminary trial genuinely enjoyed the sessions and felt better.
Advertisements
Virtual Reality Therapy for Stroke Patients in Israeli Hospitals
Israeli hospitals have started to involve virtual reality in the treatment of stroke patients.
Israeli hospitals have started to involve virtual reality in the treatment of stroke patients.
"I can absolutely say that pretty well all the patients showed a statistical increase in their general health status and their overall well-being - the quantitative scales. And as for the qualitative feedback, more than 90 per cent was positive. We do think there could be potential for psychological therapy, but the research is all preliminary," Nature magazine quoted Helen as saying.
If further research on the 'object therapy' show promising results, Helen said: "We hope we'll have sufficient data to show there really is a valuable role that museums can play (in health care), and to then provide a tool kit for saying what is the best practice for engagement between museums and hospitals."
Source-ANI
SRM
