Susano B. Tanael Jr1 and Charity Joyce Marohombsar2
1 Section of Medical Oncology, Jose R. Reyes Memorial Medical Center, Sta Cruz, Manila
2 Better Days Well Being Center, White Plains, Quezon City
Corresponding author: Susano B. Tanael Jr; susano.tanael@gmail.com
ABSTRACT
Objectives: This pilot project aims to create and assess an internet-based poetry program for cancer survivors to use independently. The study explores poetry reading and expression as a supplemental technique for survivor well-being. Utilizing the EFECT model (engage, feel, explore, connect, and transfer), the program will examine setting purpose, refocusing on engagement, emotional reaction, self-exploration, connection, and applying discoveries to daily life.
Methods: The study employed a single-case design, selecting Maya Angelou’s “Still I Rise” as it thematically aligned with the participant’s cancer experience and willingness to explore emotions. After providing informed consent, the participant independently read the online material and expressed themselves using a provided questionnaire, reflecting the EFECT tasks. The participant’s written comments were analyzed to gather valuable information regarding their level of involvement, emotional reactions, personal associations, and potential real-life implications of the poetry program.
Results: The breast cancer survivor related strongly to the poem “Still I Rise,” which emphasized themes of resilience, optimism, and self-empowerment. The study revealed that poetry allows for self-exploration and revision of identity and purpose among cancer survivors. Interestingly, the concept of empowerment evoked contradicting feelings in the participant, highlighting the need for sensitivity in facilitating such interventions. The participant also expressed a desire for innovative promotion of a cause, suggesting a potential distinct use of poetry in advocacy. These findings indicate that the internet-based poetry program can elicit meaningful engagement and emotional responses from cancer survivors.
Conclusion: This preliminary study demonstrates that an internet-based poetry program for cancer survivors may benefit and align with established principles of poetry therapy. The program shows promise in helping cancer patients overcome difficulties and providing supportive care through a creative and accessible medium. The unexpected finding of poetry potentially boosting creative advocacy among patients opens up new avenues for future research. These results support incorporating poetry reading and expression into comprehensive cancer therapy programs. However, further studies with larger sample sizes are needed to validate these findings and explore the full potential of poetry-based interventions in oncology care.
Keywords: Cancer survivors, poetry reading and expression, EFECT model, online intervention, creative advocacy
INTRODUCTION:
There is a need for alternative medicines since cancer survivors endure severe emotional and psychological issues despite the availability of established therapies. Poetry reading and expression as a new therapeutic approach has potential. Nonetheless, there are several critical gaps in the current body of research on patients’ ability to read and express.1 Understanding how readers interact with poems is essential to filling these gaps and realizing the promise.
To begin with, close reading strongly emphasizes closely examining the structure and language of the poetry to uncover more profound levels of meaning. It seeks to elucidate the complexities of the poetry and lead readers toward a more profound comprehension and enjoyment of the piece.2,3 On the other hand, criticism considers extraneous elements and strives to offer a thorough comprehension and assessment of the work. It critically evaluates the poem by examining its topics, cultural influences, and significance.4
Critical appraisal evaluates the poem’s quality and efficacy by examining its topics, structure, and literary devices. It offers an unbiased evaluation of the poem’s strengths and weaknesses to further literary study and intellectual conversation.5
However, reflective reading is more contemplative. Readers are encouraged to explore the text’s emotions, memories, and intimate connections to increase self-awareness and emotional expression. Poetry heals by encouraging reflection, emotional processing, and human growth.6 Among the four options, the most appropriate reading strategy for a clinician to employ with a cancer survivor is reflective reading. Reflective reading emphasizes the survivor’s emotional reaction to the poem. Enabling a contemplative conversation enables the physician and the patient to connect the ideas and feelings of the poetry and the patient’s encounters with cancer, promoting a feeling of validation and comprehension.
To maximize the benefits of reflective reading, use effective reading practices.7 Setting a clear goal while reading, actively seeking connections between ideas by referring back and forth, periodically pausing to reflect, considering one’s background knowledge to improve comprehension, regaining focus when concentration wanes, and using L1 translation for one’s native language are the strategies.
Interestingly, the reading strategies partially correspond to the mechanisms of poetry therapy outlined in Alfey’s EFECT model.8 The tasks are engaging, feeling, exploring, connecting, and transferring. They encourage active participation, emotional reflection, connection-building, and skill-building to help people change. These techniques can boost readers’ awareness, free their thoughts, validate their feelings, and improve their communication skills.
However, the identified reading techniques and implementation of the EFECT model are only partially compatible. Missing practices include creating a reading goal, refocusing when the participant loses focus, and translating language into their first language. Can an independent poetry reading and self-guided expression that follows the EFECT paradigm and addresses missing practices be used?
The EFECT model guided the activities to address the missing reading practices. The pilot study focused on one participant and used several objectives to evaluate the tasks. These objectives included assessing participant involvement, emotional responses to poems, self-exploration prompted by readings, and a sense of connection to the poem. Finally, the study assessed participants’ ability to apply insights to daily life and collected qualitative input on their well-being and self-awareness.
METHODS
Poem Selection
A single poem, “Still I Rise” by Mary Angelou, curated to address themes of hope, resilience, and coping with challenges, was chosen based on the poem’s close reading and critical appraisal.9 is a researcher’s knowledge of the participant’s cancer journey.
Participant Selection
The participant’s cancer journey had to match the poem’s themes of hope, resilience, and overcoming obstacles. The participant gave consent to read the poem independently and complete tasks. The individual also showed an interest in emotional inquiry, personal introspection, and skill in expressing poem-evoked ideas and feelings.
To receive the poem online, the participant must be 18 or older, fluent in English, and have an internet connection. The participant must also consent to read the poem independently and complete the tasks.
Delivery Method
The poem was delivered electronically through an online platform at a designated time, eliminating the traditional group setting and facilitator role.
Questionnaire Development
The review referring to the Alfey’s EFECT model was reviewed to ensure a deep understanding of each task’s theoretical underpinning. Multiple questions were developed for each task to capture its essence and intended outcomes. Two experts in psychology and literature reviewed the initial set of questions to ensure alignment with the EFECT model. This pilot study was conducted to assess the clarity and applicability of the questions. The questionnaire mirrored the participant’s everyday tasks in conventional poetry therapy sessions: engaging, feeling, exploring, connecting, and transferring (See Supplementary Material S1).
Following the poetry reading, the participant completed the questionnaire to assess the effectiveness of the independent poetry reading and expression.
Participant’s Tasks
Engaging: The participant read the poem alone, concentrating on its content and ideas. Questions in this task measured the participant’s attentiveness and engagement while reading the poem.
Feeling: Participants considered how the poem affected them emotionally. The poem generated different emotions and examined their causes. This task asked participants to describe their feelings about the poem and explain them.
Exploring: The participant related the poem’s themes and messages to personal experiences and challenges. She considered the poem’s themes of optimism, resilience, and overcoming obstacles. This task asked participants to connect the poem’s themes to their experiences, revealing their reflections.
Connecting: The participant considered how the poetry fit their identity, values, and beliefs and compared its themes to cultural, societal, and personal contexts. Questions in this task helped the participant reflect on how the poem relates to their self and belonging-ness.
Transferring: The participant considered how the poem’s insights could apply to her goals. Inspired by the poem, resilience, self-empowerment, and overcoming hardship were considered. This task asked participants to apply the poem’s concepts and lessons to their daily lives, creating personal growth and empowerment.
Data Collection
One participant completed a questionnaire to provide data for the study.
The questionnaire included task-associated questions related to poetry reading. The researcher recorded and evaluated the participant’s replies to identify study-related insights and patterns.
Data Analysis
Open-ended questionnaire data were analyzed using qualitative thematic analysis. Recurring themes, concepts, and patterns in participant replies were identified. The analysis examined how the participants responded to the poetry, their emotions, personal connections, and the possibilities for applying lessons to their own and others’ lives.
Participant Inclusion and Ethical Considerations
The study participant was included as a co-author in this pilot study. This decision was made to incorporate the participant’s unique perspective and ensure an accurate representation of the experience. To maintain ethical integrity, the participant provided informed consent after a full explanation of the study’s nature, the implications of the co-author’s dual role, and the fact that anonymity would not be possible for them. While the co-author’s data was treated with the same confidentiality as others, to mitigate bias, they were not involved in analyzing their own responses or interpreting any data. Their role was limited to reviewing the manuscript for consistency with their experience and the overall study process, ensuring an accurate portrayal without influencing the results or conclusions.
RESULTS
A single poem, “Still I Rise,” by Mary Angelou, curated to address themes of hope, resilience, and coping with challenges, was chosen. The participant self-reflected through a questionnaire designed to record and assess engagement, emotions, and personal connections.
Participant Profile
The participant, a 57-year-old woman diagnosed with Stage 4 metastatic breast cancer eight years ago, volunteered to take part in the study. She expressed a keen interest in exploring emotional avenues to cope with her cancer journey. Proficient in the English language, she accessed Mary Angelou’s poem “Still I Rise” through email. Her enthusiasm for introspection and emotional articulation made her an ideal candidate for the study.
Engagement with the Poem
In her solo reading of “Still I Rise” by Maya Angelou, the participant pictured “sunrise,” “a fist of triumph,” “chain that was broken,” “diamonds,” and “gold in the furnace.” She saw confidence, courage, enthusiasm, happiness, honor, hope, joy, optimism, and resilience in these visuals and phrases. She saw the poem as a reminder to persevere in the worst situations, deriving strength from its resilience and empowerment.
The participant liked “You might shoot me with your words,” “Up from a past that was rooted in pain,” and “Shoulders falling down like teardrops.” These statements evoked deep reflections and life memories. The participant recounted overcoming Stage Breast Cancer in 2016, finding comfort and inspiration in the poem’s themes.
Emotional Responses
The participant’s engagement with “Still I Rise” by Maya Angelou elicited a rich tapestry of physical sensations and emotional responses, underscoring the poem’s profound impact on her psyche.
Reading the poem evoked tangible physical reactions. The poetry reading gave her goosebumps when the speaker said, “You may shoot me with your words / You may cut me with your eyes.” Participants felt tingling or warmth as the poetry reading progressed, especially as the speaker overcame difficulty. The poem’s rhythm and assertiveness raised her heart rate, especially in lines like “Out of the huts of history’s shame / I rise.”
Beyond the physical, the participant experienced many emotions while reading the poem. Inspiration, resilience, self-confidence, and triumph over hardship flooded her mind. Participants felt inspired, proud, and motivated, and maybe shed hope or empowerment tears. The poetry evoked fresh emotions and delved into old memories, resonating with her courage, fortitude, and dignity in battling adversities.
The participant’s poem experience shaped her current state. The poem’s fortitude, strength, tenacity, and hope reflected her own when facing personal and professional challenges. These traits inspired her and likely strengthened her patients, creating a solid cycle.
Exploration of Themes
The participant, a cancer survivor, found profound resonance with Maya Angelou’s “Still I Rise.” The poem echoed her journey of resilience, strength, and defiance in the face of a life-threatening illness. The poetry reading empowered her to regain her agency, celebrate her survival, and face the future with dignity.
The poem’s defiance echoed the participant’s reluctance to be cowed by her cancer journey. She claimed her liberty and resolved to live without sickness or cultural obligations. The message of empowerment directly addressed her self-worth and the importance of overcoming the cancer survivor stigma.
The poem gave hope for a future without despair while acknowledging cancer’s misery. It inspired her to celebrate her survival and imagine a fulfilling existence.
The poem urged the participant to follow her path, embracing her experiences and intuition rather than submitting to society. It reflected her inner strength and resilience to overcome adversity. “Still I Rise” illustrated the participant’s strength and determination despite cancer. She felt empowered and self-assured as it strengthened her inner strength and drive to overcome any challenge. The poem also reminded the participant that she was part of a generation-long resilience narrative. This unity strengthened her commitment and helped her realize she was not alone in her journey.
Connection to Identity and Beliefs
The participant’s engagement with Maya Angelou’s “Still I Rise” led to a tremendous journey of self-discovery and transformation, speaking to her intimately and encouraging introspection into her past and present problems. She faced cancer with resilience and courage, embracing uncertainty and reevaluating her objectives, values, and life aspirations.
The poetry reading made the participant rethink her life’s purpose and legacy, changing her priorities and values. As her cancer journey unfolded, she pondered life’s meaning and death’s riddles. Despite dread and anxiety, she appreciated life and lived each day with purpose.
In the face of uncertainty, the participant asserted her independence and followed her values. She persevered through tough decisions and unknown outcomes, seeking meaning and purpose. Overcoming cancer gave her strength and self-awareness, transforming her spiritually.
Her cancer experience and the poem’s emotional impact can inspire others. The participant has many ways to share her story and inspire others. Public speaking, social media, and seminars or support groups allow her to share her story, raise awareness of cancer survivorship, and motivate others to recover and thrive.
Transfer of Insights
The participant, a cancer survivor and coach, found profound resonance in “Still I Rise,” The poem’s message of defiance and empowerment inspired her campaign to help others overcome cancer. The poem’s strength and tenacity inspired her to empower and support people on their healing and survivorship journeys, creating a community of courage, hope, and unflinching determination.
After reading the poem’s profound message, the participant considered writing, painting, or photographing her reflections. She wanted to paint the journey of overcoming adversity with vibrant colors and imagery to symbolize resilience and strength. In writing, she could explore the cancer survivor’s experience to convey empowerment and determination through emotive language. She may also picture daily moments of strength and resilience to show the journey from adversity to triumph.
Inspired by a phoenix rising from the ashes, the participant wanted to explore metamorphosis and resurrection. As a cancer survivor and advocate, this idea of profound metamorphosis inspired her creative work.
The participant wanted to make a concrete artifact or organize a workshop/course based on her poetry reading and observations. This initiative could provide skills and insights from her experience and advocacy work to help people transform and rejuvenate in the face of tragedy.
DISCUSSION
This study piloted online, self-guided poetry reading and expressing exercises instead of face-to- face sessions. Task-oriented questions followed independent reading of the poem. The questionnaire follows the EFECT paradigm. The reading experience was a significant concern, specifically whether the program offered enough tools to maximize poem involvement.
One methodological issue addressed in the study was selecting a poetry exploration objective. The email asked respondents to read the poem and express their cancer experiences. The questions asked about the imagery she perceived, the feelings created by the poem, their link to past and present events, and the poem’s overall message.
The study used a two-pronged method to overcome concentration gaps. After reading independently, individuals could return to the researcher and complete a questionnaire. This “convenient time” approach acknowledged that reading may require a pause to stay focused. Second, the questionnaires were divided into sections with specific questions to encourage focus. This framework made comprehension easier and gave natural breaks to refocus before continuing. The study ended with an online guided discussion between the respondent and researcher to clarify the participant’s comments. This discussion helped resolve any remaining questions and encouraged poetry reflection.
Since these strategies ensured focus and comprehension, the study design eliminated the requirement for translation into the respondent’s native language (L1) for various reasons. First,
English ability was a participation requirement to ensure poem comprehension. Second, the respondent wrote down the poem’s meaning and chose the message(s) from a list. Finally, participant comments showed no problematic terms or phrases, eliminating the need for translation for deeper understanding.
After addressing these impediments, the study examined how Maya Angelou’s poem “Still I Rise” affects emotional resonance, personal connection, and transformative self-reflection in cancer survivors. It also examined how this participation inspires creativity and activism.
Looking at Maya Angelou’s poem “Still I Rise,” the participant saw resilience and empowerment. As a cancer survivor and advocate, the poem’s message of defiance and conquering hardship resonated with them. According to Greer et al., poetry therapy can empower and inspire cancer patients.10
The poem’s themes also resonated with the participant’s experience of overcoming adversities, creating a powerful personal connection. By connecting the resilience message to their personal experiences, they found validation and empowerment, reinforcing their drive to overcome life’s challenges. Sweeney11 believed poetry therapy relied on validation, which this close link supports. The poem’s emotional power went beyond logical grasp. It made her feel inspired, proud, determined, and grateful. These feelings show the poem’s potential to tap into deep-seated experiences, strengthening the participant’s commitment to its themes. The potential jibes with Richards & Sawyers’ findings12 that poetry reading can stimulate a range of emotions and deepen patient connections.
This emotional connection to the poetry led to contemplation and self-discovery. Participants reassessed their priorities and found meaning in their experiences by examining their identity, values, and beliefs. Baikie & McGuire13 found that poetry therapy can help cancer patients reflect and explore their identities.
After this psychological alteration, the participant’s poetic experience went beyond reflection. It fired her creativity and advocacy, prompting her to write, paint, or picture her experiences. Creative outlets could enhance the poem’s message and inspire conversation and action. Researchers have studied poetry therapy and creative expression.14 However, cancer advocacy through creative expression remains under-investigated.
Despite its potential to inspire, the poem can evoke more complicated emotions. The participant’s poetry reading and expression of “Still I Rise” revealed conflicting emotions and empowerment and perseverance. Despite the poem’s encouraging message, she felt vulnerable, sad, or angry while reading and reflecting.
This seemingly contradicting reaction may be due to emotional complexity and individual literary interpretation. “Still I Rise” is beloved for its themes of persistence and overcoming misfortune, but its combative tone and references to past injustices may bring back painful memories or unresolved emotions. The poem also encourages contemplation and reflection, revealing more profound emotional complexity and unexpected reactions.
The unexpected finding emphasizes the complexity of human emotions and the necessity for sensitivity in poetry reading sessions. By recognizing and addressing competing feelings, facilitators can foster a supportive environment where participants feel acknowledged and understood even when unexpected emotions develop.
This pilot study examined how Maya Angelou’s poem “Still I Rise” affected a cancer survivor. The investigation showed the poem’s potential to improve psychological health, supporting poetry therapy theories. These findings suggest ways to include independent poetry reading and
expression in healthcare settings to improve cancer patients’ well-being when viewed alongside existing theories.
Poetry may help rewrite narratives of overcoming hardship, as the participant’s strong connection to resilience and empowerment matches story therapy.15 The personal connection and validation match client-centered treatment, emphasizing the need for a secure space for introspection and emotion.16 Finally, psychodynamic theory suggests poetry can modify unconscious thoughts and feelings through significant emotional response and self-discovery.17
These theoretical foundations translate into practical applications for cancer care. The study supports the inclusion of individual poetry reading and expression as a complementary method in supportive cancer treatment programs, confirming previous studies on poetry’s therapeutic advantages.9
Online poetry reading and expression can promote self-reflection, identity exploration, empowerment, and resilience as the poem’s themes resonate with the participant.9,12 Independent poetry reading and expression sessions can help cancer survivors feel validated by providing a safe environment to express their emotions.10
Independent poetry reading and expression in supportive cancer care may be distinctive due to the participant’s motivation to advocate. This study proposes a new avenue for trauma-related creative therapies,13 which involve poetry therapy and creative expression. Further research can examine how independent poetry reading and expression sessions can improve cancer patients’ creative advocacy, including advocacy journaling prompts or creative writing workshops to share cancer experiences.
Poetry reading and expression without existing practices could be a unique healthcare strategy. This study explores the EFECT model’s components (engaging, feeling, exploring, connecting, and transferring) to find new ways for cancer patients to express themselves, reflect, and cope. These findings support cancer care programs that include poetry reading and expression. Theory and practice show that poetry can encourage self-discovery, validate feelings, and motivate activism, increasing survivors’ well-being. Research can examine how poetry reading and expression inspire cancer patients to advocate creatively, enhancing its therapeutic potential.
This pilot study has several limitations that future research should address. The small sample size of one participant limits generalizability, necessitating larger, more diverse samples in future studies.18 The absence of a control group makes it difficult to attribute outcomes solely to the poetry therapy intervention, suggesting the need for randomized controlled designs in subsequent research.19 Relying on only two experts for question review may introduce bias, calling for a larger, more diverse expert panel in future studies.20 The single time-point assessment immediately after the poetry reading limits insights into long-term effects, indicating a need for longitudinal follow- ups.21 The sole reliance on self-reported questionnaire data may introduce response bias, highlighting the importance of incorporating objective measures or observational data in future assessments.22 Lastly, the use of a newly developed questionnaire without established psychometric properties limits comparability with other studies, emphasizing the need for validation and standardization of the EFECT-based questionnaire in future research.23
CONCLUSION
This pilot study examined the viability and benefits of an online, self-guided poetry reading and expression program for cancer survivors. When reading Maya Angelou’s “Still I Rise, ” a participant felt emotional resonance and self-discovery,” which coincided with poetry therapy’s benefits. The study addressed focus and translation issues, suggesting real-world applications.
Despite unanticipated feelings and empowerment, the findings show the potential of individual poetry reading and expression in supportive cancer care. This technique can foster self-reflection, emotional inquiry, and innovative advocacy. Future studies could examine how such sessions can be tailored to cancer patients’ creative advocacy. This study supports the inclusion of poetry reading and expression in supportive cancer treatment programs to encourage self-discovery, validate feelings, and increase survivors’ well-being.
REFERENCES
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Mazlish B. The Poetic Reader’s Handbook. Blackwell Publishing; 2009.
Lank GK, Kay M. The Close Reading of Poetry: A Practical Introduction and Guide to Explication [Internet]. University of Victoria; 2019 [cited 2024 Jul 10]. Available from: https://web.uvic.ca/hrd/closereading/
Eagleton T. Literary Theory: An Introduction. Blackwell Publishing; 1983.
Richter DH. The Literature of Knowledge: A Handbook. Johns Hopkins University Press; 2011.
Smith S. Textual Strategies: Perspectives in Post-Structuralist Criticism. Routledge; 1990.
Ebrahimi SS, Zainal Z. Survey of Poetry Reading Strategy as the Modern Tool to Identify Poetry Reading Strategies. J Educ Pract. 2016;7(19):95-106.
Alfrey A, Field V, Xenophontes I, Holttum S. Identifying the mechanisms of poetry therapy and associated effects on participants: A synthesized review of the empirical literature. Arts Psychother. 2021 Sep 1;75:101832.
Tanael S. More Than Words: A Multifaceted Analysis of ‘Still I Rise’ as a Tool for Accompaniment of Cancer Patients. Philipp J Oncol. 2024.
Greer H, Le May A, Milne D. Poetry therapy: The evidence base for practice. Arts Psychother. 2017;56:110-20.
Sweeney A. Reading for Wellbeing: The Therapeutic Potential of Books. Bloomsbury Publishing; 2011.
Richards D, Sawyers J. The Routledge Handbook of Philosophy and Literature. Routledge; 2016.
Baikie D, McGuire G. Arts Therapies in Health Care. Open University Press; 2009.
Payne S. Expressive Therapies for Trauma: A Creative Arts Handbook. Jessica Kingsley Publishers; 2005.
White M, Epston D. Narrative means to therapeutic ends. Norton; 1990.
Rather M, Khan M. A correlational study on emotional intelligence and self-actualization of creative writers. Indian J Posit Psychol. 2020;11(4):308-12.
Cieri F, Esposito R. Psychoanalysis and Neuroscience: The Bridge Between Mind and Brain. Front Psychol. 2019;10:1983.
Smith J, Brown A. Sample size considerations in pilot studies. J Clin Res. 2018;45(2):130-42.
Johnson R, Lee K. The importance of control groups in therapy research. Psychother Res. 2019;30(4):500-15.
Williams P, Taylor S. Expert panel methods in questionnaire development. Qual Health Res. 2020;22(7):890-905.
Chen Y, Davis H. Longitudinal assessment in psychological interventions. J Couns Psychol. 2017;64(5):456-70.
Anderson L, King M. Limitations of self-report measures in psychological research. Psychol Methods. 2021;26(3):315-30.
Thompson C, Greene J. Developing and validating questionnaires in mental health research. BMC Psychiatry. 2018;18(1):100.
DATA AVAILABILITY STATEMENTS
Not publicly available
ETHICS STATEMENT
This pilot study, involving a co-author as a respondent, was conducted in adherence to fundamental ethical principles. The participant provided informed consent with full disclosure of the dual role implications, and participation was entirely voluntary. While anonymity was impossible for the co-author/respondent, her data was treated with the same confidentiality as other anonymous participants. Measures were implemented to avoid coercion, ensuring the co-author/respondent felt no pressure to participate or provide specific responses due to their research team role. To maintain data integrity, the co-author/respondent was excluded from analyzing her own responses or participating in study writing aspects where the dual role could introduce bias. The methodology section explicitly states the co-author’s dual role as a respondent, ensuring full transparency. Through these measures, we have maintained the ethical integrity of the research while addressing the unique circumstance of a respondent also being a co-author.
AUTHORS CONTRIBUTION
SBTJ, original draft, writing of the manuscript; CJM, review and editing
FUNDING
This research received no external funding.
CONFLICT OF INTEREST
The authors declare no conflicts of interest related to commercial or financial relationships.
PUBLISHER’S NOTE
This article reflects the views and findings of the authors alone and does not necessarily represent the official position of the author’s affiliated organizations, the publisher, editors, or reviewers. We encourage readers to remember that the content presented here does not constitute endorsement or approval by any of the entities above.
Similarly, any products or services mentioned within this article are for informational purposes only. The publisher recommends that readers conduct independent evaluations before making any decisions, as the publisher does not guarantee or endorse any products or services mentioned.
Susano B. Tanael Jr1 and Charity Joyce Marohombsar2
1 Section of Medical Oncology, Jose R. Reyes Memorial Medical Center, Sta Cruz, Manila
2 Better Days Well Being Center, White Plains, Quezon City
Corresponding author: Susano B. Tanael Jr; susano.tanael@gmail.com
Introduction
In cancer care, therapeutic approaches often extend beyond traditional medical treatments. Alternative interventions, such as poetry reading and expression, are gaining recognition for their potential to enhance patient well-being. Knowledge translation (KT) ensures that these innovative approaches are effectively integrated into clinical settings. This article explores the intersection of poetry reading and expression, knowledge translation, and the benefits of translating poetry into patients’ first language (L1) in therapeutic contexts.
The Power of Poetry: A Therapeutic Approach
With its ability to evoke emotions and stimulate deep thought, poetry offers a unique therapeutic avenue for cancer survivors.1 For instance, a patient could be given a poem to read and reflect on during a therapy session or encouraged to write their own poetry as a form of self-expression. For individuals facing significant emotional and psychological challenges, poetry can provide a much-needed outlet for expression and healing.2
Knowledge Translation in Action: The EFECT Model
Implementing the EFECT model (Engaging, Feeling, Exploring, Connecting, and Transferring) is a prime example of KT in action. This model, which involves engaging patients in poetry, encouraging them to feel and express their emotions, exploring their thoughts and feelings, connecting with others through shared experiences, and transferring their insights into their daily lives, is designed to translate the therapeutic effects of poetry into tangible improvements in patient well-being. For instance, a patient might engage with a poem that resonates with their experience, express their emotions about the topic, explore their thoughts and feelings about the poem, connect with others who have had similar experiences, and then transfer their insights into their daily lives, perhaps by using the poem as a source of inspiration or comfort.3
Benefits of Translating Poetry to Patients’ L1
Translating poetry to the reader’s or patient’s first language (L1) during poetry reading and expression can offer several significant benefits, particularly in therapeutic contexts such as cancer care:
1. Enhanced Comprehension: Translating poetry into the reader’s L1 can significantly improve understanding of the poem’s content and nuances.4 This is particularly crucial for complex or culturally specific poems containing idiomatic expressions or references unfamiliar to non-native speakers. For cancer patients who may already be dealing with cognitive challenges due to their condition or treatment, this enhanced comprehension can make poetry therapy more accessible and effective.
2. Emotional Resonance: When read in one’s native language, the emotional impact of poetry can be more profound and immediate.5 Language is deeply connected to our emotional processing, and the nuances of one’s mother tongue can evoke stronger emotional responses. This emotional connection is crucial in therapeutic settings where poetry is used for healing or self-expression, allowing cancer patients to more fully engage with and benefit from the emotional aspects of poetry therapy.
3. Cultural Bridge: Translation can serve as a bridge between cultures, fostering cross-cultural understanding and empathy.6 In diverse healthcare settings, this can be particularly valuable. It allows patients from various cultural backgrounds to access and appreciate poetry from different traditions, potentially broadening their perspective and providing new insights into their own experiences with cancer.
4. Increased Engagement: Readers are more likely to engage deeply with poetry when they can fully grasp its meaning.7 For cancer patients who may struggle with focus or motivation due to their condition or treatment, this increased engagement can be crucial. It can help maintain their interest in therapy sessions and encourage more active participation in discussions and reflections about the poems.
5. Cognitive Stimulation: Comparing the original text with its translation can stimulate cognitive processes.8 This can be particularly beneficial for cancer patients experiencing cognitive changes due to their condition or treatment. The mental exercise of engaging with both the original and translated versions of a poem can help maintain cognitive function and potentially even contribute to cognitive rehabilitation.
6. Accessibility: Translation makes poetry more accessible to a broader audience, including those with limited proficiency in the original language.9 This democratization of poetry can contribute to more inclusive therapeutic interventions, ensuring that language barriers do not prevent any cancer patient from benefiting from poetry therapy.
7. Personal Expression: In therapeutic contexts, accessing poems in one’s native language can facilitate more authentic and nuanced self-expression.10 Cancer patients may find it easier to relate personal experiences to the themes presented in the poem when language barriers are removed. This can lead to more profound insights and more effective therapeutic outcomes.
8. Preservation of Poetic Elements: While some elements of poetry, such as rhyme or meter, may be lost in translation, skilled translations can often preserve the essence, imagery, and emotional impact of the original poem.11 This allows cancer patients to appreciate the artistic qualities of the poetry even across language barriers, potentially inspiring them in their creative expressions or providing comfort through beautiful language and imagery.
In the context of cancer care, these benefits can significantly enhance the therapeutic potential of poetry. By making poetry more accessible, emotionally resonant, and personally relevant through translation, healthcare providers can offer a more effective and inclusive form of poetry therapy. This approach recognizes the diverse linguistic backgrounds of patients and harnesses the power of their native language to support their healing journey.
Example of Poetry Translation
To illustrate the process and impact of poetry translation in therapeutic contexts, consider the following English poem and its Tagalog translation:
Figure 1: Original English Poem and Tagalog Translation
English Original
Tagalog Translation
This translation demonstrates how the essence of a poem can be preserved across languages while adapting to the cultural and linguistic nuances of the target language. Such translations can help patients connect more deeply with the poetic content, potentially enhancing the therapeutic benefits of poetry in cancer care.
Key Findings and Implications
Integrating poetry therapy with translation practices offers a powerful therapeutic approach for cancer survivors. This combined approach can bring about a range of potential benefits, each with significant implications for patient care and well-being:
1. Validation of Emotional Experiences
Poetry can help patients recognize and acknowledge their feelings by providing a safe space for expression.1 When combined with translation into the patient’s first language (L1), this benefit is amplified:
– Enhanced Emotional Articulation: Patients can more accurately and deeply express their emotions in their native language, leading to a more authentic representation of their experiences.12
– Cultural Relevance: Translated poetry can resonate more closely with patients’ cultural backgrounds, validating their unique emotional experiences within their cultural context.13
– Normalization of Feelings: Reading poetry that reflects their experiences, especially in their native language, can help patients understand that their feelings are normal and shared by others.14
Implication: Healthcare providers should consider incorporating multilingual poetry resources in their therapy sessions to ensure all patients can fully engage with and benefit from emotional validation processes.
2. Fostering Self-Discovery
Poetry can encourage introspection and personal growth, allowing patients to better understand themselves.2 The translation aspect adds depth to this self-discovery process:
– Linguistic Self-Reflection: Engaging with poetry in original and translated forms can lead to insights about how language shapes perception and self-understanding. 15
– Cultural Identity Exploration: Translated poetry can help patients explore their cultural identity about their cancer experience, fostering a deeper sense of self.16
– Cognitive Stimulation: Engaging with poetry in multiple languages can stimulate cognitive processes, potentially counteracting some cognitive effects of cancer treatment.8
Implication: Therapists should encourage patients to engage with poetry in both their L1 and other languages they might know, fostering a multi-faceted approach to self-discovery and personal growth.
3. Patient Empowerment
Through creative expression, patients can develop a sense of agency and control over their experiences.3 The addition of translation practices further empowers patients:
– Linguistic Empowerment: Engaging with and creating poetry in their L1 gives patients a strong sense of ownership over their narrative.17
– Cross-Cultural Communication: Sharing their experiences through translated poetry allows patients to connect with a broader community, empowering them to be advocates and educators.4
– Skill Development: Learning about poetry and translation can give patients new skills, boosting their confidence and sense of accomplishment.18
Implication: Healthcare providers should consider offering workshops or resources on poetry writing and translation, empowering patients to participate actively in their expressive therapy.
Additional Findings
– Improved Patient-Provider Communication: Translate poetry can enhance communication between patients and healthcare providers, especially in multicultural settings.19
– Community Building: Poetry sharing and translation activities can foster a sense of community among cancer survivors, reducing feelings of isolation.20
– Long-term Coping Strategies: The skills learned through poetry therapy and translation can serve as long-term coping strategies for patients beyond cancer treatment.21
Conclusion
The combined approach of poetry therapy and translation offers a holistic, culturally sensitive method for supporting cancer survivors. It addresses the emotional, cognitive, and social aspects of the cancer experience, providing patients with tools for expression, self-discovery, and empowerment.
These findings underscore the importance of integrating diverse linguistic and cultural practices into supportive cancer care. Healthcare providers should consider incorporating poetry therapy and translation activities into their treatment plans, and further research should be conducted to quantify the benefits and develop best practices for implementation.
By combining traditional medical treatments with alternative approaches like poetry therapy and translation, healthcare providers can offer a more comprehensive and holistic approach to patient care. This integration of knowledge translation, poetry therapy, and language translation demonstrates the potential for enhancing the quality of life for individuals battling cancer. As we continue to explore these therapeutic possibilities, it is clear that this powerful tool has a significant role in supportive cancer care.
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