Power of Creative Arts and Crafts for Older People with Chronic Pain and Depressive Symptoms: Co-development of “Rewire with Arts” Protocol and Findings from a Pilot Study (Preprint)

BACKGROUND Chronic pain and depression are common in older people, and treatment goals should address wellness outcomes and not be limited to symptom reduction. Creative activities may reduce an individual’s perceptions of the impact and distress related to the symptoms by shifting their mental focus and empowering them with a sense of control and self-achievement. Empirical research is, however, limited. OBJECTIVE This study describes the co-development of a creative arts and crafts protocol for older people with chronic pain and depressive symptoms and investigates its acceptability, feasibility and potential effects. METHODS This study had two phases. In Phase 1, a multidisciplinary expert panel (n=10) consisting of professionals, service users, and researchers underwent iterative rounds to co-develop the protocol. In Phase 2, a pilot study was conducted among 12 older adults (all female, mean age = 71.4 years). Mixed methods were used, including questionnaires at baseline (T0), post-intervention (T1), and three-month follow-up (T2), assessing pain intensity and interference and depressive symptoms using a variety of qualitative methods (observational notes and focus groups). Descriptive analysis and repeated measure ANOVA were applied to analyze quantitative data, and thematic analysis was used for qualitative data. RESULTS Qualitative findings supported the program’s acceptability and feasibility. Participants reflected that the process was engaging and empowering and brought them a sense of achievement and recognition. Art enabled participants to gain insight into and express deeper feelings, while groups with peers made them feel relatable and accepted. The quantitative findings also evidenced the program’s potential effects in reducing depressive symptoms (t(11)= -3.25, p CONCLUSIONS The study results support the feasibility of a culturally appropriate arts and crafts program and provide preliminary evidence of the program’s impact in reducing depressive symptoms and improving mental health-related QoL in older people with chronic pain. Given the promising results, a definitive trial is needed to reveal the effectiveness of creative arts and crafts in pain management. CLINICALTRIAL ClinicalTrials.gov ID: NCT05528536