A Pilot Study Evaluating Traditional and Artificial Intelligence (AI)-Generated Bedside Art Interventions in Hospital Care

The psychological burden of hospitalization adversely affects patient well-being and recovery trajectories, prompting an investigation into whether personalized artwork-created either traditionally or through artificial intelligence (AI)-offers a viable therapeutic approach. This pilot study evaluated traditional artist-created and AI-generated personalized artwork in an inpatient setting. Adult inpatients (<i>n</i> = 37) at Stanford Hospital underwent a personalized artwork intervention. Participants completed preintervention and postintervention surveys assessing changes in psychological measures, including pain, stress, anxiety, comfort, and attitudes toward art in healthcare. A 15-min structured interview exploring personal interests and meaningful life experiences informed the creation of personalized artwork, either by an artist or using a commercially available AI art generation platform. Altogether, the art interventions were associated with significant reductions in anxiety and stress, and increased comfort. Linear regression analysis showed no significant differences in effectiveness between traditional and AI-generated art modalities. Patient satisfaction was high, with 74% reporting the experience exceeded expectations, 72% indicating it meaningfully improved their hospital experience, and 85% of participants being "very likely" to recommend it to others. This pilot study suggests that personalized art interventions, whether created traditionally or via AI, can be effectively implemented in hospital settings and may improve patient well-being.