Arts, culture and sports engagement and self-rated health: a cross-sectional population-based study in southern Sweden.

Background: International research demonstrates an association between arts and culture activities and health and wellbeing. A similar association exists for sports event attendance and health. The aim of this study was to investigate associations between arts and culture engagement and attending sports events during the past year and self-rated health (SRH).

The impact of arts on prescription on individual health and wellbeing: a systematic review with meta-analysis.

Introduction: The evidence-base for the impact of participating in the arts for different aspects of health and wellbeing is growing. Arts on Prescription has gained increasing recognition as a method for fostering connections among individuals and communities, however, to date no systematic review of the impact on individual health and wellbeing has been conducted. This review aims to provide an understanding of individual health and wellbeing outcomes from participation in Arts on Prescription programmes.

Arts and culture engagement for health: a Danish population-based study.

Objectives: Global health challenges are complex and new approaches are pivotal. Engagement in arts and cultural activities is commonplace across different cultures, and research shows associations with benefits for health and wellbeing. Using the arts for health promotion and prevention of illness has increased worldwide.

Arts and culture engagement and mortality: A population-based prospective cohort study.

Aims: The aim of this study was to investigate associations between having visited the theatre/cinema and an arts exhibition during the past year and all-cause, cardiovascular disease (CVD), cancer and other-cause mortality.

Methods: The 2008 public health postal survey in Scania, Sweden, was distributed to a stratified random sample of the adult population (18-80 years old). The participation rate was 54.

Engagement with arts and culture activities in the Danish general population: Longitudinal associations with new onset or persistent depression and mental wellbeing.

Objectives: International literature suggests that arts and culture activities may benefit mental health, however, such survey studies conducted in the Danish population are scarce. Further, studies have investigated the associated risk for incident depression, but not for persistent depression. The objective of the current prospective study was to assess associations of engagement in arts and culture activities with incident/persistent depression and also mental wellbeing among Danish adults in the general population.

Swedish primary healthcare practitioners' perspectives on the impact of arts on prescription for patients and the wider society: a qualitative interview study.

Background: There is growing evidence that participating in arts activities are beneficial for mental health and wellbeing. Many patients attending primary care services have mental ill-health or social issues that healthcare practitioners currently do not have adequate ways of supporting. This study set out to explore the perspectives of primary healthcare practitioners on Arts on Prescription (AoP) as an additional referral pathway.

Music Activities and Mental Health Recovery: Service Users' Perspectives Presented in the CHIME Framework.

Internationally, mental health service developments are increasingly informed by the principles of recovery, and the availability of arts and creative activities are becoming more common as part of provision. Mental health service users' experiences, reflecting on the complex nature of using music participation in recovery are, however, limited. This essay considers literature that explores how music can support mental health service users in a recovery process.

An Arts on Prescription Programme: Perspectives of the Cultural Institutions.

Research on Arts on Prescription (AoP) programmes are on the increase and the participants' positive mental health outcomes are well-documented. However, there is insufficient research that considers the participating cultural institutions' perspectives. A qualitative focus group interview was conducted with the participating culture institutions in an AoP project in Denmark.

Interdisciplinary arts and health practice with an institutional logics perspective.

: Investigating the interdisciplinary relationships between stakeholders engaged in arts and health practice in the UK and Denmark, specifically with regard to institutional logics theory. The identified stakeholders: health professionals, museum educators and mental health service users. : Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 30 participants: health professionals, museum educators and service users.

[Participation in art and cultural activities has a positive effect on somatic illnesses].

The increasing international research into the use of arts and cultural activities in clinical contexts documents a number of beneficial effects in relation to many illness and diagnoses. A systematic review has identified a large number of studies documenting that art, culture and creative activities can have a positive effect on both mental and physical health. In this article, selected results are presented with the purpose of drawing attention to the possibilities for non-pharmacological methods, which are increasingly available, also in Denmark.

Arts on prescription in Scandinavia: a review of current practice and future possibilities.

Aims: This article reviews current practice relating to arts and culture on prescription in Sweden, Norway, Denmark and in the United Kingdom. It considers future possibilities and also each of the Scandinavian countries from a culture and health policy and research perspective. The United Kingdom perhaps leads the field of Arts on Prescription practice, and subsequent research is described in order to help identify what the Scandinavian countries might learn from the UK research.

[Art participation enhances well-being].

This article provides a brief overview of different approaches and benefits of art participation from an international research perspective and looks at developments in art and health care in the Nordic countries. Three examples include a medical programme, an NHS trust and a museum (all in the UK) illustrating various approaches to art and health care benefitting health-care professionals and medical students as well as patients.

Beyond the borders: The use of art participation for the promotion of health and well-being in Britain and Denmark.

Background: This article compares British and Danish promotion of well-being through participation in art activity to empower the individual. It examines the influence of national, social and political contexts on art and health community projects by comparing practice and project outcomes.

Method: Based on two case studies, the article draws on specific evidence in Britain and Denmark.