Doodling away stress: art therapy tested for caregivers of the dying
NCT ID NCT07702682
First seen Jul 14, 2026 · Last updated Jul 15, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This study tests whether a meditative drawing technique called Zentangle can reduce the burden, stress, and burnout felt by family members caring for a loved one in a palliative care unit. Sixty caregivers are randomly assigned to either a two-week Zentangle program or standard care. Researchers measure changes in caregiver burden and stress using validated questionnaires before and after the intervention.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- a meditative art therapy program called Zentangle
- What this could lead to
- If effective, this simple art therapy could offer a low-cost way to ease the emotional strain on family caregivers.
- What could go wrong
- This is a small, early-stage trial with only 60 participants, so results may not apply broadly. The therapy is brief and may not produce lasting benefits.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
-
Not a phased trial
Phase numbers describe drug development. The registry uses this when they do not apply, as it does for trials of devices, procedures or behaviour changes, and for observational studies.
- Participants
-
60 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
-
Jan 2025
- Finished
-
Jan 2026
- Lead sponsor
-
Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
-
Children (under 18), adults (18 to 64) and older adults (65 and over)
- Sex
-
Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
-
Accepted
You do not need to have the condition being studied to take part.
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: Being a family caregiver of a patient hospitalized in the palliative care unit Volunteering to participate in the study Being aged 18 years or older Being able to communicate in the local language Providing care for the patient for at least one month Exclusion Criteria: Having a previously diagnosed major psychiatric illness or cognitive impairment that prevents participation in art therapy Having visual or physical impairments that interfere with performing fine motor tasks required for the Zentangle method Participating in any other concurrent psychological or art therapy intervention during the study period
Get updates
Get notified about this study
Sign up to get updates when this study changes or when new studies for Family caregivers are added.
By submitting, you agree to our Terms of use
Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
-
Fırat University
Elâzığ, Elâzığ, 23100, Turkey (Türkiye)
More trials for these conditions
Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.
- Can listening to music calm anxiety at the end of life?
- Can a meditation app built for black women ease stress better than a generic one?
- A simple drawing before surgery may lower stress hormones
- Mindfulness body scan may calm stress and inflammation after floods
- Can a simple mouth rinse ease soreness for patients fed by tube?
- A 45-minute chat could change how advanced cancer patients face tough decisions