Authors: (including presenting author): :
Wong KY, Keung NY, Shum CWO, Choi WY, Wong HC, Chin YM
Affiliation: :
Occupational Therapy Department, Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital
Keyword 1: :
patient empowerment
Keyword 2: :
mental well-being
Keyword 3: :
Recovery Oriented practise
Introduction: :
EmpowerArt Workshop is an innovative, recovery-oriented occupational therapy programme that reposition service users as active creators and vendors of their own artwork within a hospital setting. By combining structured art production, simulated work tasks and real sales opportunities, the program harnesses the therapeutic value of meaningful occupation and marketplace engagement to enhance self-efficacy, psychological well-being, and work readiness. This person-centered, arts-based model addresses gaps in work rehabilitation and illustrates how occupational therapy can generate tangible outcomes, including artistic products, economic participation and strengthened agency, while enhancing quality of care for patients and caregivers.
Objectives: :
To evaluate the impact of EmpowerArt Workshop on participants’ self-esteem, recovery, and work readiness, and to explore how art-making and volunteer sales participation enhance self-efficacy, meaningful occupation, and mental well-being.
Methodology: :
A mixed-method pre–post design was adopted. Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale was administered before and after the program to assess changes in self-esteem. A structured questionnaire captured demographic characteristics, participation frequency, satisfaction level and motivations for involvement. Quantitative data were analysed using descriptive statistics and paired-sample comparisons. Semi-structured interviews with five participants explored perceived changes in self-belief, recovery, mood, work-related skills, and social confidence; transcripts were thematically analysed to complement quantitative findings.
Result & Outcome: :
Twenty participants engaged in the EmpowerArt Workshop between July and December 2025. Eleven completed pre–post Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, with mean scores increasing from 26.8 to 28.7, representing a mean improvement of 1.9 points and a statistically significant pre–post difference (paired t-test, p = 0.023). Qualitative analysis identified themes of enhanced psychological well-being, increased sense of accomplishment and satisfaction, and strengthened self-efficacy supporting utilization of personal strengths. Participants also reported improved work capability and vocational readiness through development of work-related and interpersonal competencies, alongside greater social connectedness fostered by peer support and mutual appreciation. EmpowerArt Workshop demonstrated measurable gains in self-esteem and rich subjective improvements in recovery, work readiness and social participation. The findings support this creative, work-focused, arts-based intervention as a feasible and scalable model for enhancing recovery-oriented, person-centred occupational therapy services in mental health settings
