Arts in health in the self-management of chronic respiratory disease

Arts in Health participation is recognised by the World Health Organisation as being beneficial to holistic health outcomes.

Such interventions include singing and dancing, both of which have relevance to physiotherapy in the potential to improve outcomes for people living with chronic respiratory diseases such as Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) or Interstitial Lung Disease (management of symptoms, improving balance and exercise capacity).

A small number of randomised controlled trials have explored the clinical effectiveness of singing for lung health for individuals living with COPD, showing improvements in physical health-related quality of life. Further mechanistic and clinical effectiveness trials are now warranted to further explore the potential of Arts in Health in the management of Chronic Respiratory Disease.

As part of this PhD the student will:

• Learn different Arts in Health practices applicable to individuals with Chronic Respiratory Disease
• Perform a systematic review of arts in health intervention content and outcomes
• Explore physiological changes that occur during performance of arts interventions, when healthy and for individuals living with Chronic Respiratory Diseases
• Co-design an intervention pilot with a range of stakeholders including individuals with respiratory disease, to explore physiological changes during the repeated performance of Arts in Health exercises

References

The physiology of singing and implications for ‘Singing for Lung Health’ as a therapy for individuals with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease 

Singing for Lung Health—a systematic review of the literature and consensus statement

Moving singing for lung health online in response to COVID-19: experience from a randomised controlled trial

Dance for people with chronic respiratory disease: a qualitative study

What is the evidence on the role of the arts in improving health and well-being? 

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