Virtual Dance Therapy for adult cancer patients: A program evaluation
Date & Time:
Saturday, September 16, 2023
3:45 PM- 5:00 PM
Location:
Banff Centre for Arts & Creativity
107 Tunnel Mountain Drive
PO Box 1020 Banff, Alberta
Canada
T1L 1H5
Course Description:
Background: Dance/Movement Therapy (DMT) is increasingly used as a complementary treatment to address psychological and physical wellbeing in adults. However, it is unknown how it can be leveraged in adult cancer care. This mixed methods program evaluation aimed to assess patient-reported benefits and satisfaction with the virtual DMT in an academic medical oncology center setting.
Methods: We used deidentified program evaluation data to asses: (1) impact of DMT on patient-reported outcomes using a 5-point Likert scale questionnaire delivered via Zoom; and (2) patients’ satisfaction with the DMT sessions using a 10-point Likert scale questionnaire delivered via Zoom. Pre- and post-session data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and a paired t test. Qualitative data were captured through semi-structured interviews and analyzed using thematic analysis.
Results: 39 patients participated in DMT (64.7±9.8; range 40- 81), majority were female (35; 89.7%), and had diagnosis or history of breast cancer (17; 43.6%). Participation in DMT significantly decreased anxiety [-0.42±0.76; t(25)= -2.85, p=.009] and distress [-0.35±0.80; t(25)= -2.21, p=.036]; and significantly increased sense of joy [0.73±1.18; t(25)= 3.14, p=.004]. We observed a non-significant trend in physical activity increase [0.38±0.98; t(25)= 1.99, p=.057]. Patients indicated high satisfaction with the program (20/20, 100%) and would recommend it to others (20/20, 100%). Thematic findings revealed that participation in DMT sessions helped patients (1) build connection with others and receive support; (2) freely express difficult emotions, (3) relax and improve mental state; and (4) engage in a physical activity and improve physical health.
Conclusion: Our DMT program shows promise as a component of an integrative cancer care. This evaluation provides useful information to help generate hypotheses for future RCT studies aiming to evaluate the effect of DMT on mood and physical activity in adult cancer patients.
About the Instructors
Jennifer Whitley, MS BC-DMT LCAT CMA is a board-certified Dance/Movement Therapist (DMT) and Licensed Creative Arts Therapist who received her master’s degree, with honors, in Dance Therapy at Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, NY. She is trained through the Ways of Seeing program at Dancing Dialogue, Certified as a Laban Movement Analyst from the Laban Institute of Movement Studies and completed training in the discipline of Authentic Movement at The New York Center for the Study of Authentic Movement with Joan Wittig. Jenn is also a Reiki Practitioner (Level II) and trained in Meaning-Centered Psychotherapy (MCP) through MSKCC. She has been a DMT at Dancing Dialogue since 2014 working with children, families, and adults incorporating all aspects her training into the Ways of Seeing psychotherapeutic multi-arts approach. She is certified provider of TeleMental Healthcare from the Telehealth Certification Institute. Jenn’s experience also includes medical DMT at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, joining the Integrative Medicine Services (IMS) team in 2012, with a focus in pediatric oncology alongside Dr. Tortora. Her work at MSKCC also expands beyond pediatrics into staff wellness and providing virtual classes and workshops for adult patients through IMS. Additionally, she provides dance/movement therapy for children with neurodiverse conditions facilitating group DMT sessions in the public school setting since 2013. She taught as interim instructor in The New School’s Creative Arts Therapy Certification Program, worked as DMT/Choreographer for Angelight Films, and presents workshops locally, nationally, and internationally.
Karolina Bryl
Jun Mao
Registration:
https://www.sioconference.org/