April 4, 2024 | 4:00 PM
04/24
Iva Kirac
/ IGET /
Contemporary medicine, through advanced medical technologies, has achieved remarkable results in extending human life. However, its strongly mechanistic approach to patient care raises important questions about post-treatment quality of life and long-term health maintenance, highlighting the need to humanize healthcare through the integration of creative therapies.
Through the arts (visual arts, drama, dance, and literature), support can be provided for disease prevention, improving patients’ ability to cope with treatment and rehabilitation, and helping patients and their loved ones process and adapt to new life circumstances. Results from the Cleveland Clinic (USA) indicate high patient satisfaction with creative therapies: 91% reported improved well-being through visual arts and 94% through music-based interventions, along with increased awareness of health prevention. These approaches were identified as one of the underutilized modalities in health promotion.
Founded in 2016, the Center for Arts and Medicine formalized a series of initiatives within the Oncology Clinic aimed at using art as a means of integration and reducing the stigma associated with malignant diseases. Through a series of exhibitions initiated in 2011 with the establishment of the Panacea Gallery, the Clinic opened its doors to forms of expression and experiences not commonly found within hospital environments. The interaction between artists, artworks, and users of the space (patients, family members, friends, and staff) encouraged further initiatives, including concerts, literary clubs, movement and dance therapy, music therapy, and art therapy.
In addition to continuous medical treatment for people living with malignant diseases, our objective is to improve quality of life, make time spent in hospital environments more supportive, help family members better understand their loved ones’ conditions, and raise awareness about the importance of disease prevention among the general population. Another key aim is reducing stress among patients, their families, and healthcare staff.
In short, the goal is to present malignant diseases as chronic conditions for which there can be a perspective of a normal future life if recognized and treated in time.
Center for Arts and Medicine
Roundtable participants:
Moderator:
Guests:
Representatives from Sve za nju, Europa Donna, Nismo same, patients who participated in art therapy programs, and occupational and art therapists.
ISKRA collective
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Dragana Lucija Ratković Aydemir
prof. dr. Jona Piehl
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Alberto Perazza
Lana Rosandić
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Dragana Lucija Ratković Aydemir
Noel McCauley
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Ljiljana Blagojević, PhD
Maja Necić
Milka Gnjato
Dušica Totić
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Tricia Austin
Dragana Lucija Ratković Aydemir
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Alan Kostrenčić, PhD
Saša Begović
Senka Dombi
Prof. Krešimir Ivaniš
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