The creative process for chemotherapy in-patients: a contribution from the thought of D. W. Winnicott

Abstract

The experience of Occupational Therapy using activities as therapeutic tools promotes a space for creativity. Within this context, we sought to identify the way in which the patient experiences the creative process, while developing activities during his time of hospitalization and chemotherapy. It is a clinical study of qualitative approach and its theoretical framework was guided by the theory of maturation by D. W. Winnicott. To achieve our objective, 5 private meetings were held with 9 patients admitted for chemotherapy; the fi rst meeting intended to an initial interview and the following meetings intended to performing an activity. At the end of each meeting the patient
responded to a semi-structured interview, which was recorded and later on transcribed. The information collected was later subject to content analysis. From this process six thematic categories emerged: the experience of time, the play in the creative process, subjectivity in action, creativity as a metaphor, the emergence of creativity and religious belief. It was found that the process of
performing an activity showed itself as a creative act that expressed the particular way through which each patient gave meaning and signifi cance to their experiences in the world.