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Poetry therapy in patients with advanced cancer - a mixed-methods pilot study

delete2026-03-01
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PRE
AI
A
Anna-Riikka Vehviläinen
M
Mervi Nyfors
P
Poyhia, Reino
L
Lamminmaki, Annamarja *
DOI:10.1080/08893675.2026.2644238delete
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Abstract

Abstract

En 中文
Only few studies exist about poetry therapy in patiens with advanced cancer. We ran a pilot poetry therapy group with seven participants with advanced cancer to assess the participants' experiences and the possible effects of poetry therapy. The poetry therapy included elements of mindfulness and green care. The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and dignity scores were collected before and after the intervention. The participants' experiences of the intervention were collected with open-ended questions. Most of the participants considered this kind of poetry therapy useful and suitable. Dignity scores improved (mean decrease 4.2 points, p = 0.018) significantly, and there was a trend toward a decrease in the HADS anxiety scale (mean decrease 1.9 points, p = 0.09). The content analysis of the patients' experiences yielded five main categories, including processing emotions, structuring thoughts, connectedness, and an increase in anxiety. Poetry therapy seems acceptable and possibly beneficial in patients with advanced cancer.
Keywords:
Bibliotherapy
cancer
expressed emotions
mindfulness
oncology
peer group

Journal

J
JOURNAL OF POETRY THERAPY
IF:
0.7
Papers:
36
Citations:
0

Organization

U
university of eastern finland hospital
Scholars:
1.4K
Papers: 1.2K
Citations: 1
K
kuopio university hospital
Scholars:
2.6K
Papers: 2.1K
Citations: 1
U
University of Eastern Finland
Scholars:
1.4W
Papers: 1.2W
Citations: 1.5W
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