Effects of participatory art-based painting workshops in geriatric inpatients: results of a non-randomized open label trial.

Background: Art-based activities like painting workshops demonstrated health benefits in older individuals living in home care facilities. Few studies examined the effects of painting workshops in geriatric inpatients.

Aim: The study aims to examine whether the participation in painting workshops performed in patients admitted to a geriatric acute care ward reduced the number of medications taken daily, use of psychoactive medications, the length of stay and inhospital mortality.

Methods: Based on a non-randomized open label trial, 79 inpatients who participated in painting workshops and 79 control inpatients were recruited in the geriatric acute care ward of the Jewish general hospital (Montreal, Quebec, Canada). Four outcomes were used: the number of medications taken daily and use of psychoactive medications the day of discharge to geriatric acute care ward, the length of hospital stay and inhospital mortality.

Results: The participation in Painting workshops were associated with a lower number of medications taken daily at discharge (Coefficient of regression β =  - 1.35 with P = 0.001) and lower inhospital mortality (odd ratio (OR) = 0.09 with P = 0.031). No significant association was reported with use of psychoactive medications and length of stay.

Conclusion: The participation in painting workshops reduced the number of medications taken daily and incident inhospital mortality in geriatric inpatients admitted to a geriatric acute care ward, suggested a positive effect on health condition of this participatory art-based activity.