Learning Disability Group Art Therapy: Looking and Asking

NCT05761600 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: 147946
• Study Type: observational
• Target: 22
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 5

Brief Summary

A qualitative study of group art therapy in England for adults with a learning disability accessing community services. Different stakeholder views and experiences will be gathered using ethnographically-informed group observation, semi-structured individual interviews and a focus group. People with a learning disability will support the data analysis and dissemination of findings in accessible means.

Conditions

Learning Disability, Adult; Mental Health

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• To understand the features of current group art therapy practice for people with a learning disability

  Through using ethnographically informed observation of art therapy groups, arts-based semi-structured interviews and focus group to gather key stakeholder perspectives from service users, carers, and art therapists

  12 months

Secondary Outcomes (3)

• Identify the potential active ingredients of art therapy with this client group through describing the procedures used by art therapists

  12 months

• Understand how people with a learning disability experience art therapy to identify helpful therapist behaviours and highlight possible future domains of outcome measurement

  12 months

• Identify the components of the intervention, which includes dynamic administration and how best to include the person's network

  12 months

Study Arms (3)

Art Therapist

Professionally qualified and HCPC registered Arts Therapists delivering group arts therapy in the community settings in the UK

Other: Ethnographically-informed group observation; Other: Semi-structured Interviews; Other: Focus Group

People with a Learning Disability

Adults (18 years+) currently attending an art therapy group who have a learning disability and can consent and communicate in a way that supports meaningful engagement in the study.

Other: Ethnographically-informed group observation; Other: Semi-structured Interviews

Identified Support Person

Person who is well-known to the person with a learning disability (e.g. NHS staff, paid support staff or family members who are carers) who provides practical and/or emotional support to the person with a learning disability attending the art therapy group

Other: Semi-structured Interviews

Interventions

Ethnographically-informed group observation OTHER

The chief investigator will visit each art therapy group 3-6 times; there will be up to 5 groups recruited. They will record observational data and insights; making use of visual reflective journaling where appropriate. These will later be written up as full field notes.

Art Therapist; People with a Learning Disability

Semi-structured Interviews OTHER

Individual interviews will take place with all three key stakeholders in group art therapy at different stages of the study. Each interview will have a topic guide to structure the discussion and will combine arts-based methods with conversation to maximise accessibility. Interview location, timing and format (online or in-person) are flexible, and the chief investigator will adapt to the needs of the participants.

Art Therapist; Identified Support Person; People with a Learning Disability

Focus Group OTHER

After data collection and initial analysis (likely 3-5 months after final observation and/or interview) a focus group will be held with the art therapist participants. This session will use arts-based engagement to support member checking of the initial results and triangulation of the findings, which is likely to include potential active ingredients in group art therapy and principles of practice with this client group.

Art Therapist

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years+
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)
• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

There are three different participant groups in this study. They are: 1. Professionally qualified and HCPC registered Arts Therapists delivering group arts therapy in the community settings in the UK 2. Adults with a learning disability who are currently attending an arts therapy group 3. An identified support person who is well-known to the service user (e.g. NHS staff, paid support staff or family members who are carers) who provides practical and/or emotional support to the person with a learning disability attending the art therapy group

You may qualify if:

• Participants who are art therapists must:
• Be a HCPC registered arts therapist practicing in the UK
• Have experience of delivering group arts therapy in a community setting to this population
• Be able to give informed consent and communicate in English
• Participants who are adults with a learning disability must:
• Be 18 years old or over
• Have a diagnosed learning disability or be accessing an NHS specialist learning disability service or using their personal budget to access a third sector art therapy group for this population
• Have experienced mental distress, have a diagnosed mental health condition or be accessing support for their mental health
• Be currently accessing group arts therapy
• Be able to give informed consent with adapted communication aids and approaches to meet their communication preferences
• Have a level of verbal ability to ensure they can communicate their views and meaningfully engage in the study
• Participants who are paid support staff or family carers must:
• Be 18 years old or over
• Be identified by the person with a learning disability as someone who knows them well and could represent the carer perspective in this study
• Be able to give informed consent

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Queen Mary University of London: lead
• Barts & The London NHS Trust: collaborator
• East London NHS Foundation Trust: collaborator

Study Sites (5)

Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust

London, Kent, DA2 7WG, United Kingdom

Location

Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust

Salford, Manchester, M6 8HD, United Kingdom

Location

Sirona Adult Learning Disability Health Service

Bristol, BS15 9TR, United Kingdom

Location

Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Foundation Trust

Coventry, CV6 7AT, United Kingdom

Location

East London NHS Foundation Trust

London, E1 8DE, United Kingdom

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Learning Disabilities; Psychological Well-Being

Interventions

Focus Groups

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Communication Disorders; Neurobehavioral Manifestations; Neurologic Manifestations; Nervous System Diseases; Signs and Symptoms; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms; Neurodevelopmental Disorders; Mental Disorders; Personal Satisfaction; Behavior

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Data Collection; Epidemiologic Methods; Investigative Techniques; Health Care Evaluation Mechanisms; Quality of Health Care; Health Care Quality, Access, and Evaluation; Public Health; Environment and Public Health

Study Officials

• Nicki Power

  Queen Mary University of London

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: observational
• Observational Model: OTHER
• Time Perspective: OTHER
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: February 27, 2023
• First Posted: March 9, 2023
• Study Start: February 14, 2023
• Primary Completion: September 25, 2023
• Study Completion: September 25, 2023
• Last Updated: March 17, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-03

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

GB (5)