Arts for Wellness (AFW): Arts-Based Social Prescribing During Inpatient Rehabilitation for Older Adults in Singapore

This mixed-methods study examined whether Arts for Wellness (AFW), an artist-led arts programme introduced during inpatient rehabilitation, improves mental wellbeing among older adults in a Singapore community hospital, and explored how and for whom it works. Adults aged 50 years and above admitted to Outram Community Hospital for rehabilitation were randomly assigned (2:1) to AFW plus standard care or to standard care alone. AFW consisted of six group sessions (twice weekly for 3 weeks, 45-60 minutes each) in either dance or literary arts, delivered by trained National Arts Council artists. The art form was determined by which programme was running on the ward during the participant's admission, not by randomisation. After discharge, AFW participants were offered two virtual "Social Hour" sessions, a Take-Home Kit, and linkage to community arts programmes. The main question was whether AFW improves mental wellbeing (Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-being Scale, WEMWBS) 4 weeks after baseline compared with standard care. Secondary questions were whether it affects symptoms of depression and anxiety, health-related quality of life, patient satisfaction, and health-care utilisation, and whether any benefit is maintained up to 4 months later. Participants completed questionnaires at baseline, 4 weeks, 12 weeks, and about 20 weeks after baseline. A nested qualitative strand involved interviews with AFW participants and focus groups with artists, health-care professionals, and programme implementers to understand mechanisms, inclusion, and sustainability.