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Abstract
This study assessed the disease experiences in children and adolescents with cancer through an art-based assessment. It used a longitudinal qualitative research design with inductive content analysis. The study included twenty children (6-17 years old) diagnosed with cancer from the Hospital de Especialidades Pediatricas, Maracaibo, Venezuela. The art-based assessment program consisted of 7 individual sessions in which self-image, family relationships, disease perception, child's experiences at the hospital, concerns about the disease and treatment, and positive feelings were evaluated through art exercises. Two main categories emerged from the analysis: (1) Cognitive Dimension, related to awareness and concerns regarding the disease and treatment, as well as patients' ability to take responsibility for their health, and (2) Emotional Dimension, which covers the positive emotional states, such as fighting spirit, affection towards others, happiness, and hope, along with the negative emotional states which include sadness, anxiety-fear, and anger. The results of this research support previous findings indicating that art-based assessment is a valid and effective tool to evaluate thoughts and emotions in children and adolescents with cancer.
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