The effect of a mural activity on health students' hopelessness and social integration levels

The application of artistic works on walls is called mural. Mural painting has been used as an intervention in health-related projects. In this study, visual arts and the concept of metacognition were structured, combined and presented as activities. It was conducted to determine the effect of mural metacognition activities with the students of the Faculty of Health Sciences on the despair and social integration levels of the students during the COVID-19 period. The research was planned as quasi-experimental with a pre-test and post-test design. The project was conducted with 55 students. The study data were collected using an online questionnaire. The questionnaire consists of an information form, the Beck Hopelessness Scale and three sub-dimensions of the Social Integration Scale. Percentage, mean, and t-tests were used to analyze the data. Eighty per cent of the students participating in the study were female, with a mean age of 20,80±0.9 years. 60% of the students were studying nursing, 11,1% in midwifery, 15,6% in physiotherapy and rehabilitation, and 13,3% in nutrition and dietetics. 60% of the students evaluated their academic achievement as good. When the total score of the educational integration sub-dimension of the social integration scale was compared, there was a difference between the pre-test and post-test scores (p=0,035; p<0,05). At the end of the research, nine mural drawing and painting activities were conducted. The mural activity reduced students' hopelessness levels and contributed positively to their educational integration levels. Metacognition