Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41803863›Full record

ArticleBMC medical education2026

Promoting well-being through creativity: a mixed-methods study on integrating studio art into education for students in medical fields in Japan.

Yuko Taniguchi, Moto Kitayama, Yuko Akazawa, Hisatoshi Kawano, Yasuhiro Nagata, Sanjana Molleti, Sophie Gorham, Olivia Costa, Puja Chhetri, Josie Friedman and 3 more

Abstract read
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In one paragraph

Article in BMC medical education, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

13 authors.

Yuko TaniguchiCenter for Learning Innovation, University of Minnesota Rochester, 111 South Broadway, Suite 300, Rochester, MN, 55904, USA. tani0013@r.umn.edu.
Moto KitayamaAdvanced Medical Education Center, Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Nagasaki University, 1-12-4 Sakamoto, Nagasaki city, Nagasaki, 852-8523, Japan.
Yuko AkazawaNagasaki University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Nagasaki University, 1-12-4 Sakamoto, Nagasaki City, Nagasaki, 852-8523, Japan.
Hisatoshi KawanoFaculty of Education, University of Yamanashi, 4-4-37 Takeda, Kofu City, Yamanashi, 400-8510, Japan.
Yasuhiro NagataDepartment of Community Medicine, Nagasaki University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Nagasaki University, 1-12-4 Sakamoto, Nagasaki City, Nagasaki, 852-8523, Japan.
Sanjana MolletiMedical School, University of Minnesota Twin Cities, 420 Delaware St SE, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA.
Sophie GorhamHennepin County Medical Center, 730 South 8th Street, Minneapolis, MN, 55415, USA.
Olivia CostaMedical School, University of Minnesota Twin Cities, 420 Delaware St SE, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA.
Puja ChhetriCenter for Learning Innovation, University of Minnesota Rochester, 111 South Broadway, Suite 300, Rochester, MN, 55904, USA.
Josie FriedmanSchool of Medicine, University of Washington, 1959 NE Pacific St, Seattle, WA, 98195, USA.
Shanze HayeeDepartment of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, 606 24th Ave S, Minneapolis, MN, 55454, USA.
Robert ErdmannCenter for Learning Innovation, University of Minnesota Rochester, 111 South Broadway, Suite 300, Rochester, MN, 55904, USA.
Kathryn R CullenDepartment of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, 606 24th Ave S, Minneapolis, MN, 55454, USA.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundMental health challenges are a significant concern among students and trainees in medical fields worldwide, including Japan, where high psychological distress is prevalent. This pilot study examined the feasibility and impact of a 6-day creative arts program designed for Japanese medical and international graduate students.

methodA total of 14 students provided informed consent to participate in the study. Employing a convergent mixed-methods design, quantitative and qualitative data were collected and analyzed independently. Students completed the Comprehensive Inventory of Thriving (CIT) before and after the program to assess changes in psychological well-being. Pre-post differences were examined using paired t-tests. Qualitative data collection included post-program surveys, semi-structured interviews, and six-month follow-up interviews. We conducted thematic analysis to identify key patterns in student experiences. We then examined whether changes in CIT scores correlated with the frequency of qualitative codes to identify potential points of convergence between the two datasets.

resultsThirteen students completed all major components of the study, with an average attendance of 5.2 out of 6 sessions. CIT scores significantly increased from before (M = 198.0, SD = 29.9) to after completing the program (M = 217.3, SD = 20.2), t(12) = -4.89, p = .0004, indicating a significant increase in thriving. Thematic analysis yielded three core themes: (1) Discovery through the underexplored parts of self and surroundings, (2) Rapid community bonding through inspiration, and (3) Creativity as a disruption to stress. Six-month follow-up interviews revealed additional themes related to enduring impact from the intervention: Applying creative insights into everyday life and mindsets. Through the convergent mixed-methods analysis, one pairing reached statistical significance: the change over time in the CIT subscore ‘Meaning’ was strongly correlated with the qualitative code “Out of the ordinary” (r = + 0.868), suggesting that increases in participants’ sense of meaning were strongly associated with the frequency of experiences that felt “Out of the ordinary” during the creativity program.

conclusionThe findings suggest that a creative arts program for medical students is both feasible and effective in promoting well-being, enhancing stress management skills, and deepening self-awareness. The program shows promise for integration into medical education to support students’ holistic development and mental health.

Indexed as

ArtCreativityStudents, MedicalAdultFemaleHumansJapanMaleMental HealthPilot ProjectsPsychological Well-BeingQualitative ResearchStress, PsychologicalYoung AdultArtsCreativityMedical educationMental healthStudent well-being

Identifiers

PMID41803863
PMCPMC13085415

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.