Art for health

Abstract

Asserts that designing a mural about smoking, diet and exercise can help young people to understand the health messages they are trying to portray. Describes the setting up of a competition to design a wall mural incorporating the ideas of no smoking, healthy diet and exercise, and its subsequent evaluation by means of a quiz given before and after the designing of the mural. Reports that there was a measurable and statistically significant increase in knowledge after the competition. Asserts the competition demonstrated that art has potential educational value but that gaps were identified which would best be addressed through direct teaching. Concludes the project had further benefits on the development of other health projects, on schools and staff.

Citation

Fraser, J. (1994), "Art for health", Health Education, Vol. 94 No. 1. https://doi.org/10.1108/09654289410798189