Visual Art Intervention for People With Stroke on Holistic Well-Being: A Critical Review

Background: After a stroke, a person usually experiences physical, psychosocial, and spiritual consequences, causing distortion of holistic well-being. Existing studies using visual art interventions found some benefits to physiological, psychosocial, and/or spiritual well-being of people with stroke, but little is known about holistic well-being. Objectives: This critical review to identify how visual art interventions are delivered to people with stroke on holistic well-being. Methods: Databases were searched up to September 30, 2019, for published studies on “stroke” AND “art*/visual art*,” AND “holistic well*being.” Results: Ten studies were included. Heterogeneity was found in study characteristics, intervention modalities, outcome measures, and methodology issues or a lack of clarity in theoretical application. Most participants were people with stroke, with only two studies recruited older people with stroke. All studies were conducted in rehabilitation units or communities, and none in residential care settings. One study reported the effects on holistic well-being. The appraised quality of the included studies was variable. Conclusion: Stroke impacts the holistic well-being of a person, but little has been known for older people with stroke. It remains unclear how visual art interventions can be delivered and benefit the holistic well-being of older people with stroke in residential care settings.