Keywords
Dance movement therapy; DMT; children; pediatric; cancer; oncology
Abstract
Background: Pediatric cancer patients are susceptible to emotional distress, depression, anxiety, and physical symptoms impacting their quality of life. Dance movement therapy is a non-pharmacological method that has been shown to improve feelings of depression, anxiety, emotional, somatic symptoms, and overall quality of life. While much of cancer research is dedicated to finding cures, it is also important to focus on identifying methods for improving the symptoms and quality of life for pediatric cancer patients.
Aim: The purpose of the literature review is to examine studies that show the effects of dance movement therapy on pediatric oncology patients’ cancer-treatment related symptoms and identify any gaps in the literature.
Methods: An electronic multi-database literature review CINAHL, MEDLINE, and APA PsycInfo databases using terms such as “dance movement therapy (DMT)”, “pediatrics (paediatric)”, “child (children)”, “cancer”, “oncology”, “anxiety”, “depression”, “symptoms”, “mood”, “family”, and “quality of life”.
Results: The search resulted in 122 articles, and 3 were eligible to be included in the literature review. The studies used methods such as randomized controlled trials, non-randomized descriptive studies, and retrospective studies. The studies found that based on patient, family, and clinician reports, DMT sessions were associated with decreased pain, improved emotions, and improved coping studies. Younger patients were more likely to be referred to DMT and when compared to other forms of integrative medicine, such as music, mind-body, massage, and acupuncture, DMT had the most referrals.
Conclusion: The studies identified in this review demonstrate overall positive benefits of dance movement therapy for pediatric patients with cancer. Measurements taken from both patient and parent reports of symptoms found improvements in pain, emotions, and psychological stress. Future research would benefit from utilizing a randomized controlled trial, replication of past study methods to confirm validity, larger sample sizes, and utilizing both subjective and objective measurement tools.
Thesis Completion Year
2024
Thesis Completion Semester
Fall
Thesis Chair
Loerzel, Victoria
College
College of Nursing
Department
Nursing Practice
Thesis Discipline
Nursing
Language
English
Access Status
Open Access
Length of Campus Access
None
Campus Location
Orlando (Main) Campus
STARS Citation
Trautwein, Victoria M., "Dance Movement Therapy For Pediatric Oncology Patients And Its Effect On Cancer Therapy-Related Symptoms" (2024). Honors Undergraduate Theses. 217.
https://stars.library.ucf.edu/hut2024/217
Included in
Alternative and Complementary Medicine Commons, Movement and Mind-Body Therapies Commons, Oncology Commons, Pediatric Nursing Commons
Rights Statement
