The Application of Art-Expressive Techniques on Children with Chronic Disease in the Field of Education and Rehabilitation

Abstract

During the past two decades the integrative approach which includes art-expressive techniques to encourage awareness and social and emotional development has begun to develop more intensely in the field of applied education and rehabilitation sciences. Within the framework of childhood chronic diseases, the field of psychosocial oncology has particular significance for the expansion of professional competences and the development of interdisciplinary communication. The experiences from paediatric oncology show that facing a disease and understanding its state is very traumatic and stressful experience for the child. Therefore, the aim of this paper is to indicate the importance of the influence of art-expressive techniques through the application of different media as an integrative approach. The paper aims to highlight the significance of art-expressive techniques applied to children suffering from malignant diseases in facing the physical and emotional stress during hospitalization. The implementation of art-expressive techniques took place in the paediatric ward for haematology and oncology of the Clinic for Children's Diseases in Zagreb. The significance of the psychosocial support is emphasized through the application of children's stories, drawings and pictures which can help the child's emotional state. The results of the monitoring of the applied techniques indicated a positive effect on children who suffer pain and existential tension.

Key words: integrative approach; malignant diseases in childhood; psychosocial support; supportive and therapeutic interventions