Abstract
How to choose pictures in the rooms of seriously ill patients? The individual order-made pleasing pictures can be cost effective? -A pilot study was made.
Methods : Thirty-five terminally ill inpatients individually chose a pleasing picture to look at for 15 minutes. Before and after observation of the chosen picture, Profile of Mood States questionnaires (POMS), pulse, blood pressure, chromogranin A in the saliva, natural killer (NK) cell activity, and adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) were provided.
Results : The overall characters of pictures were bright-colored, gentle-lined, representational, which were often landscapes, with a positive content. The scores of POMS indicated ; the observation decreased tension-anxiety, depression, anger, fatigue and confusion, increased vigor, decreased salivary chromogranin A concentrations. Natural killer cell activity was associated with picture types.
Conclusion : Viewing self-selected pleasing pictures improved patients' psychological state, and may have reduced sympathetic nervous system tone, but did not statistically enhance immunity. Pictures in the rooms of seriously ill patients should be chosen to enhance their physiological and psychological well-being but not give memories which may modulate activity of adrenocorticotropic hormone axis. Individual order-made pleasing pictures have high potential to be cost effective. Further research should be required to investigate.
