Italian hospitals use art to support cancer patients
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In Rome, Italy, the Isola.ART program at the island Tiberino Hospital helps cancer patients cope with treatment through access to art and culture.
The program, which began at the Gemelli Polyclinic in 2013 and expanded to other Italian hospitals, integrates art into all stages of care. Patients receive art-filled environments in waiting rooms and treatment areas, and can choose music and images to accompany radiation therapy sessions. The hospital offers patients more than just visual and auditory art.
Oncologist Vincenzo Valentini explained that a cancer diagnosis creates an “existential earthquake” for patients, disrupting their lives and requiring support to rebuild. The Isola.ART program aims to offer “life” in places where people fear losing it, helping patients rediscover a desire for life. Patients also participate in guided tours of Rome’s historical sites, like the Colosseum and Palazzo Colonna, with loved ones.
Program leaders believe a positive mindset increases the chances of recovery and hope to expand art as a therapeutic tool throughout Italy. Andrea Viani, a 55-year-old patient undergoing treatment, shared that the program helped his body relax and repair itself.
