Arts in Health Special Interest Group of RSPH, webinar series An overview of the approach to a research-informed service for people with persistent bodily symptoms for which tests and scans etc come back negative. Clinical outcomes are presented. The NHS commissions this service.

1. Arts, Wellbeing and Health
Webinars
Creative Arts on Prescription:
Wellbeing for people with
persistent symptoms
Pathways2Wellbeing
A University of Hertfordshire spin-out
View the full programme and register for future webinars at www.rsph.org.uk/artshealthwebinars

2. What kind of symptoms?
IBS
Fibromyalgia
Chronic Fatigue
ME
Chest pain; Back pain;
Head ache
Muscular-skeletal pain
Breathing problems
Skin conditions
Palpitations
Insomnia
And many, many more…………

3. Challenges
• The problem: No support for patients with
persistent bodily symptoms without a known
medical cause
• GP engagement
• Lack of choice of treatment for patients and the
NHS
• Patient isolation with symptoms
• Lack of GP time
• Lack of support to self-manage symptoms
• People feeling out of control with their symptoms

4. Common symptoms

5. A solution: Pathways2wellbeing courses
Following GP referral Phase 1 over 3 months:
Individual monitoring of symptoms (assessment)
Individual meeting with group facilitator
12 x 2 hours group workshops (maximum 12 people per group);
Action plan
Individual meeting with facilitator
Individual monitoring
Phase 2 over 6 months:
Letter from self; from facilitator
Text; Email
Individual monitoring
Self help group if indicated
Discharge to GP

6. How are courses evaluated?
Using standardised measurement tools in telephone
interview with an assessor
GAD (anxiety);
GAF (general functioning);
MYMOP2 (symptom distress, activity and wellbeing)
PhQ9 (depression)
Three collection points: before courses, immediately
afterwards and 6 months later
Participant Experience Form/PEF (quantitative and
qualitative) from referral to post course, completed in Exit
meeting with facilitator after the course

7. Improving physical and mental health
• How do the arts help?
• How can we work creatively with bodily symptoms?
• What is the lived body experience?
• How can we integrate body and mind to nurture a holistic
approach?
• Why is a group important in this approach?
• How can improvements be sustained?

8. Wellbeing in Body and Mind

9. Outcomes
From the evidence so far participants enjoy the courses
They have found them helpful in a variety of ways:
Increased overall feeling of wellbeing
Increase in day-to-day activity
Increased self-management of symptoms
Decreased distress from symptoms
Decrease in feeling low
Decrease in stress levels
Participants attendance is exceptional and rate courses as
excellent/very good

11. COMMENTS FROM PATIENTS
“It was helpful to be in a group of people sharing similar
problems”
“Freedom of expression and an alternative way to consider
coping with my problems”
“Achieved a return to work and overcoming of fibromyalgia”
“The focus was on the MUS issues”
“The group was good in that we spoke and listened to each
other “
“I wish it had been available 5 years ago when the
symptoms started”

12. COMMENTS FROM GPs
“What an excellent service,
my patient has never
returned and he was coming
every week and writing long
letters to me”

13. Forthcoming Courses
Watford, Herts January 2016
Hemel Hempstead, Herts January 2016
Stevenage, Herts 2016
Bishops Stortford, Herts 2016
For details /book your place on a FREE course contact: Your GP in
Hertfordshire for a referral OR book yourself via:
Telephone: The Administrator 0844 358 2143
info@pathways2wellbeing.com www.pathways2wellbeing.com
Forthcoming training dates in the approach for professionals wishing to
facilitate groups in the NHS and privately available on request

14. This webinar is part of a series of six webinars on arts,
wellbeing and health running bi-monthly in 2015-16.
View the full programme and register for future webinars at
www.rsph.org.uk/artshealthwebinars
Webinars will also be available in the RSPH Members’ Area
at www.rsph.org.uk.
For more information on joining RSPH please visit
www.rsph.org.uk/membership