How is radiation therapy portrayed in art?

Because patient perceptions of radiation can influence their willingness to receive it as treatment, researchers recently examined how radiation therapy is represented in different forms of art.

The analysis in the Journal of Medical Radiation Sciences found that overall, novels, poems, music, film, and paintings tend to depict radiation therapy as associated with fear, mystery, and fascination.

The authors note that radiation therapy is widely perceived as having both lifesaving and life-threatening potential. As such, exploring how radiation therapy is represented in various art genres, and thus how it is likely to be appreciated by patients and the general public, has scientific, intellectual, and clinical value. Also, different forms of art might be harnessed to help patients cope with the burdens of radiation interventions.

“Exploring how patients perceive radiation and radiotherapy treatment helps patients and health care providers align the preparation and performance of radiotherapy treatment. Reduced stress, improved coping, and more efficient treatment are potential results,” said corresponding author Ad A. Kaptein, PhD, of Leiden University Medical Centre, in the Netherlands. “In patients with moderate to severe psychological issues, bibliotherapy, expressive writing, photovoice, and drawing about the radiation experience may be additional therapeutic measures that can help improve patients’ quality of life.”

URL upon publication: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/jmrs.70026

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About the Journal
Journal of Medical Radiation Sciences is an international journal in radiation therapy, nuclear medicine, medical imaging/diagnostic radiography, medical ultrasound/sonography, and the complementary disciplines of medical physics, radiology, radiation oncology, nursing, psychology and sociology research and practice.

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