Education of creative art therapy to cancer patients: evaluation and effects.

Background: The course Cancer and Creative Art offers cancer patients the possibility to cope with their illness through creativity and self-expression.

Methods: Five groups of 35 participants, predominantly composed of women with breast cancer, participated in an explorative evaluation and effect study; premeasures and postmeasures were applied.

Results: The course met the needs of participants that included personal growth and contact with fellow sufferers as well as exploration and expressing their emotions and coping with their feelings.