The objective of this research is to assess the effects of engaging in coloring activities on patients' self-reported pain and anxiety scores while they wait to be seen by a physician in an emergency department (ED). The current literature on patient visits in the ED highlights the significance of anxiety, stress, and frustration in patient experiences, especially when accounting for long wait times before the physician-patient encounter. The study will address this common problem by looking at the potential impact of nature-themed or geometric shape coloring activities on the ED patient experience as it relates to self-reported anxiety and pain scores. Given that long wait times are increasingly being reported across the country, this study may offer a possible meaningful low-budget, low-resource intervention which could be offered to patients.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
SUPPORTIVE_CARE
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
168
Coloring packet containing nature scenes
Coloring packet containing geometric shapes
Pages containing word searches, connect the dots, etc.
Blank sheets of paper and a pencil.
Stony Brook University Hospital
Stony Brook, New York, United States
RECRUITINGHospital Anxiety and Depression Scale-Anxiety (HADS-A) Score
Change in self-reported Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale-Anxiety (HADS-A) Score following art therapy intervention (0-21, 21 = most anxious)
Time frame: 8 hours
Numerical Pain Score
Change in self-reported numerical pain score following art therapy intervention (0-10, 10 = the worst pain)
Time frame: 8 hours
Color Selection
Correlation between Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale-Anxiety (HADS-A) Score or pain score and colors selected by patient to use during art therapy
Time frame: 8 hours
Patient impression of activities
Patient engagement (reported time packet used, recommendation for others to use)
Time frame: 8 hours
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