MORE FROM THE STACKS
EDITOR’S NOTE: There are literally thousands of journals published around the world that relate to the disability community. It is virtually impossible to capture even a fraction of them. HELEN receives "stacks" of journals and selectively earmarks what we feel are "must read" articles of interest for our readers. It's a HELEN perk!
McKinsey Health Institute Report: Lack of Disability Data Impedes on Healthcare Equity
A recent report from the McKinsey Health Institute and the Missing Billion Initiative highlights significant gaps in health data on disabilities, and shines a light on how these gaps present a barrier to achieving global health equity goals.
Left unaddressed, these gaps have a profound impact. 1.3 billion people – 16% of the world’s population – live with a disability and face heightened barriers to healthcare that lead to poorer health outcomes and higher mortality rates. Yet countries across income designations fail to collect usable data about disabilities. These gaps will restrict global and national leaders from developing and enacting informed policies that will address critical health challenges this large population faces.
This report is the first of a 3-part publication series with the McKinsey Health Institute through which we aim to shed light on key issues in healthcare access for people with disabilities.
Telehealth in Arts Therapies for Neurodevelopmental and Neurological Disorders: A Scoping Review
Ērika Reitere 1, Jana Duhovska 1, Vicky Karkou 2, Kristīne Mārtinsone 1
PMID: 39744037 PMCID: PMC11688619 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1484726
Abstract
Background: Arts therapies, encompassing art therapy, music therapy, drama therapy, and dance movement therapy with the broader practice of expressive arts therapies, have demonstrated positive outcomes in the treatment of neurodevelopmental and neurological disorders (NNDs). Integrating arts therapies into telehealth has become increasingly important to improve accessibility for people with mobility impairments or those living in remote areas. This study aims to map the existing body of literature to provide an in-depth overview of telehealth in arts therapies for individuals with NNDs.
Methodology: This scoping review followed the PRISMA guidelines. Six databases were systematically searched, with 2,888 articles screened for eligibility. Inclusion criteria focused on primary research peer-reviewed articles in English that addressed telehealth arts therapies for NNDs.
Results: Seventeen telehealth studies published between 2009 and March 2024 were included, with a notable increase in publications after 2020. The studies covered various neurodevelopmental disorders, including autism spectrum disorders, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), Rett syndrome, and neurological disorders such as stroke, epilepsy, cerebral palsy, central nervous system (CNS) tumors, dementia, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, spinal cord injuries, and mild cognitive impairment. Music therapy was the most widely studied modality. Interventions ranged from therapeutic singing and songwriting to virtual reality experiences. Different platforms and specialized virtual environments were used alongside pre-recorded sessions. Positive benefits included psychological enrichment, social connectivity, cognitive improvements, and brain changes, although some studies reported mixed or no significant effects in certain areas.
Conclusion: Telehealth in arts therapies significantly benefits individuals with NNDs, improving accessibility and providing psychological, emotional, social, and cognitive benefits. The positive benefits observed highlight the potential of these interventions to improve overall well-being and daily functioning. Future research may focus on high-quality qualitative studies and neuroimaging assessments to further validate the impact of telehealth arts therapies.
Keywords: art therapy; arts therapies; dance movement therapy; expressive arts therapy; music therapy; neurodevelopmental disorders; neurological disorders; telehealth.
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Front Psychol. 2024 Dec 18:15:1484726. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1484726. eCollection 2024.