Validation of the Arts Observational Scale (ArtsObS) for the evaluation of performing arts activities in health care settings

Abstract

Background: As the number of arts-in-health programmes globally continues to increase, there is an growing need for a systematic approach to evaluation both to provide evidence of the efficacy of projects and support continuous quality improvement. The Arts Observational Scale (ArtsObS) is proposed as a mixed-methods tool to evaluate performing arts activities in health care settings. Methods: The tool was developed over two years involving a consultation process with 1,500 patients, relatives and staff, and validated over a six-month period with 805 patients. Construct validity was assessed through extensive literature reviews, and score distributions, inter-rater reliability and concurrent validity were assessed using Pearson’s/Spearman’s coefficient. Results: Organising constructs were grounded in both empirical and theoretical research. Data collected with the tool were well distributed. Inter-rater reliability was very strong (r = .721, p < .001) and concurrent validity was strong (r = .641, p < .001). Conclusions: ArtsObS is a reliable way of evaluating the impact of arts programmes in health care settings and is recommended to practitioners, project managers and researchers.

Keywords:

• arts
• psychology
• evaluation
• methods
• health

Acknowledgements

The authors are grateful to Katey Warran, Uberto Orlando, Rebecca Argyle and Melissa Hobbs at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital for their help with data collection.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by CW+.