Introduction: The NIC(Nursing Interventions Classification) consists of basic physiological,
complex physiological, behavioral, safety, and health system domain. Art therapy is
classified in the behavioral therapy class and the communication enhancement class in the
behavioral domain. In NIC, art therapy is defined as \'facilitation of communication through
drawings or other art fonns\' and 19 art therapy intervention activities are listed. The NIC
interventions are linked to KA\"!DAs(North American Nmsing Diagnosis Association\'s) 137
diagnoses. The NANDA nursing diagnoses in which art therapy is used as a primary
intervention are diversional activity deficit, rape trauma syndrome, and risk for violence.
According to the facts above, art therapy is an independent nmsing intervention that can be
used in nursing. The purpose of this research was to determine the effecLs of a 6-week,
12-scssion group art therapy program on the behavior of chronic psychiatric inpatients.
Methods: The sample consisted of two groups of chronic psychiatric inpatients; 11 patients
with an average of total disease duration of 12.91 years who participated in a 6-week
group art therapy program, and a group of 11 subjects with an average of total disease
duration of 12.43 years who did not participate in the program. A pretest -posHest
quasi experimental design was used to assess behavior at the beginning and at the end of
the 6-week, 12-session group art therapy program. The Time points for obtaining data
were matched for both groups. The effectiveness o[ the program was assessed using the
Nurses Observation Scale for Inpatient Evaluation(NOSIE-30). SPSSWI:\\ 8.0 was utilized
for data entry and analysis employing the Mann-Whitney U test.
Results: The findings of the study indicated the followings: (a) No significant differences
were found belween the lwo groups on behavior(z= -.110, p= .913), (b) :\\0 significanl
differences were found between two groups in positive behavioral factors(z= -1.893, p=
.058), and (c) The experimental group showed significantly lower scores on negative
behavioral factors on the NOSIE-30 than the comparison group after participating in the
group art therapy program(z= -2.308, p= .021).
Conclusions: In conclusion, the findings showed the possibility of applying group art
therapy as an effective nursing intervention for patients who lack verbal communication and
social interaction behaviors to improve their negative behaviors.