TY - JOUR
T1 - Applying arts to health interventions and health research in Ghana
T2 - a scoping review
AU - de-Graft Aikins, Ama
AU - Sanuade, Olutobi
AU - Agyei, Francis
AU - Bewong, Rita Fatric
AU - Akoi-Jackson, Bernard
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2024 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.
PY - 2024
Y1 - 2024
N2 - Background: This review documents arts applied to health interventions and health research in Ghana, examines evidence of their impact on health outcomes, and identifies research and practice gaps. Methods: Eight databases (MEDLINE, Academic Search Complete, CINAHL, Health Source: Nursing/Academic Edition, Humanities International Complete, Scopus, African Journals Online and PsycINFO) were searched for articles published between 2000 and 2022. Following screening, seventeen articles reporting sixteen eligible studies were selected. Results: Ten art forms (including comedy, music, theatre) were applied to eight health conditions (including HIV/AIDS, mental illness, COVID-19). Most studies involved artists and artist-researchers. The majority of studies were cross-sectional. Impact was reported on health education, illness management and community health development. Some studies engaged with health policy communities, but none reported impact on health policy change. Conclusion: Creative arts have a reported measurable impact on selected health outcomes in Ghana. Participatory arts-based projects have the greatest potential for sustainable and transformational social health impact.
AB - Background: This review documents arts applied to health interventions and health research in Ghana, examines evidence of their impact on health outcomes, and identifies research and practice gaps. Methods: Eight databases (MEDLINE, Academic Search Complete, CINAHL, Health Source: Nursing/Academic Edition, Humanities International Complete, Scopus, African Journals Online and PsycINFO) were searched for articles published between 2000 and 2022. Following screening, seventeen articles reporting sixteen eligible studies were selected. Results: Ten art forms (including comedy, music, theatre) were applied to eight health conditions (including HIV/AIDS, mental illness, COVID-19). Most studies involved artists and artist-researchers. The majority of studies were cross-sectional. Impact was reported on health education, illness management and community health development. Some studies engaged with health policy communities, but none reported impact on health policy change. Conclusion: Creative arts have a reported measurable impact on selected health outcomes in Ghana. Participatory arts-based projects have the greatest potential for sustainable and transformational social health impact.
KW - Arts
KW - Ghana
KW - health interventions
KW - health research
KW - social creativity
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85208508033&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1080/17533015.2024.2421430
DO - 10.1080/17533015.2024.2421430
M3 - Review article
AN - SCOPUS:85208508033
SN - 1753-3015
JO - Arts and Health
JF - Arts and Health
ER -