Creative Arts Therapy for Healthcare Professionals Is Associated With Long-Term Improvements in Psychological Distress

Objective Burnout in healthcare professionals (HCPs) is a pressing issue in healthcare. We report the long-term impact of our previous creative arts therapy (CAT) intervention for reducing psychological distress in HCPs. Methods Healthcare professionals were randomized to CAT intervention or control group. The CAT group completed surveys evaluating symptoms of psychological distress at 4 months, 8 months, and 1 year postintervention, whereas the control group completed surveys at the 1-year mark. Results The CAT group demonstrated sustained improvement in distress scores for anxiety, depression, and affect at 4 and 8 months postintervention. At the 12-month mark, the CAT group exhibited improvements in anxiety, depression, and affect compared with the control group. Conclusion Creative arts therapy has lasting benefits for HCPs. Long-term follow-ups are crucial for assessing sustainability, and further investigation should focus on disseminating and implementing CAT programs for HCPs.