E078 Embedding art therapy in the rheumatology multidisciplinary team: collaborative approaches to supporting complex paediatric patients

Abstract Background/Aims Children and young people (CYP) with rheumatological conditions often face psychosocial challenges alongside physical symptoms. Non-pharmacological interventions are important for holistic care. Art therapy, embedded within the multidisciplinary team (MDT), offers a creative, developmentally appropriate approach that promotes coping, engagement, and emotional regulation. This project reviews a year of art therapy within a tertiary paediatric rheumatology service at the Royal Hospital for Children, Glasgow, showing how collaboration supports improved clinical and psychosocial outcomes. The review evaluated the scope and impact of art therapy over 12 months, highlighting how MDT working enhances engagement, adherence, and emotional wellbeing. It also presents several case examples demonstrating collaborative practice between Teapot Trust art therapists and MDT members, and therapeutic outcomes achieved. Methods A service audit (June 2024-June 2025) recorded all art therapy interventions, including individual, group, and joint MDT sessions. Case examples were selected to highlight cross-disciplinary working, addressing shared clinical challenges, using art therapy as a non-pharmacological intervention. Results Over 12 months, approximately 160 hours of individual and 200 hours of group art therapy was delivered to paediatric and adolescent rheumatology patients aged 4-18. Case examples that demonstrated MDT collaboration include: Individual Art Therapist: providing 1:1 emotional support to explore concerns. Group Art Therapist: providing step-up/step-down and outpatient support. Nurses: supporting needle phobia and medication concerns. Doctors: addressing emotional barriers to treatment adherence. Youth Participation Worker: facilitating transition to adult care. Clinical Psychologist: exploring anxiety around pain and emotional impact. Healthcare Assistant: helping reduce hospital-related anxiety. Adult Clinician: ensuring continuity through transition. These collaborations supported holistic responses to emotional and clinical needs. Shared outcomes included improved adherence, reduced procedural anxiety, enhanced emotional regulation, and stronger engagement with treatment and transition. Conclusion Embedding art therapy within the MDT enables a responsive, wrap-around model of care. Creative exploration helps CYP identify barriers to engagement, informing joint interventions that build trust, resilience, and coping. Collaborative practice across disciplines ensures continuity, shared understanding, and holistic outcomes. We acknowledge the support of: Kirsty McLellan, Neil Martin, Janet Gardner-Medwin, Eve Smith, Lucy Paterson-Brown, Elizabeth Twynam-Perkins, Hannah Richardson, Shreena Unadkat, Emily Fraser, Clare Alexander, Siobhan Callan, and Daryl McGhee. Disclosure P. Watts: None. R. Muir: None. J. Walsh: None. A. Fell: None. E. Carson: None. A. Lloyd: None.