PolyU, GCBCOA launches Electronic Painting for Breast Cancer

Through EPBC, patients reported enhanced emotional well-being. 

The School of Nursing of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) and Global Chinese Breast Cancer Organizations Alliance (GCBCOA), with biopharmaceutical company Gilead, has launched the first Electronic Painting for Breast Cancer (EPBC) platform for breast cancer patients.

With 30% of patients experiencing emotional distress after diagnosis, the platform enables patients to create art using computers or smart devices whilst conducting emotional assessments to understand their emotional health.

The parties conducted a joint study which included 52 breast cancer patients who had signs of depression. Participants were randomly assigned to either an intervention group or a control group, both of which utilised the EPBC platform for eight consecutive weeks.

Through EPBC, patients reported enhanced emotional well-being, with negative emotions decreasing by 20% and the depression index dropping by 30%. Participants also reported significant improvements in their self-assessment of health, reflecting an enhanced quality of life.

"Moving forward, we aim to expand this initiative into hospitals and community settings to support even more individuals in need," said Professor Leung Yee-man, associate head (Research) of the School of Nursing at PolyU.