Art and craft activities during haemodialysis-an untapped potential to improve patients' treatment experience

Abstract

Introduction and Aims:We have runanArton Dialysis programat this satellite dialysis unit since 2013, funded by Kidney Care UK and a local charity. A professional art teacher, Karen Bird, developed the program and a volunteer, Jim Martin, now supports it. Patients do activities such as drawing, painting and tapestry. Patients have commented: "Drawing when you are on dialysis takes your mind off what is going on". "Art has unlocked something in me. I feel so much better for it and it's helped with my emo-tions and my self-esteem". "My family are so pleased with what I have done. I am going to have my pictures framed". "I was told as a child that I'd never amount to much but through this art project I've found something I'm good at."We have investigated the potential for art and craft activity during dialysis to be adopted more widely and whether having an art and craft teacher affects the number of patients interested. Methods:We surveyeda randomsample of haemodialysis patients from 17UKdial-ysis units with a questionnaire in the Dialysis Outcomes and Practice Patterns Study in 2016/17. Results: 333 patients received the questionnaire and 83% responded. Of those responding, 9% reported currently doing art or craft as a hobby and 7% did art or craft while on dialysis (table). Activities reported were: painting (5 patients), drawing (6), colouring (4), knitting/crochet (4), drawing on computer (1), calligraphy (1), cross-stitch (1), embroidery (1), tapestry (1), weaving (1), origami (1). [Figure Presented] 8% patients were definitely interested in doing art or craft on dialysis and 18% were possibly interested. Of those definitely interested, 25% had never done art or craft and 35% had done it in the past but did not currently. Of those possibly interested, 38% had never done art or craft and 44% had done it in the past but did not currently. The number expressing an interest increased to 29% if an art and craft teacher was available to help. Conclusions: Few patients in the UK currently do art or craft during haemodialysis but 26% are interested. Offering a teacher increases the number interested only slightly. Dialysis unit staff are missing an opportunity to improve the experience of patients. They should give patients permission to do art or craft during haemodialysis, help with providing equipment and encourage their activities, possibly with the help of volunteers.