The ‘good-enough’ balance between evidence-based practice and practice-based evidence in contemporary art therapy: a review of mixed methods research in art therapy

Background Evidence-based practice (EBP) generated a significant paradigm shift in clinical decision-making, along with rising concerns on neglecting the subjective and creative nature of practice-based evidence (PBE). Mixed methods research emerged as a promising approach to integrate EBP and PBE to enrich the body of evidence in various fields including art therapy research.Aims To examine the characteristics of the effectiveness of art therapy studies within mixed methods research paradigm and how mixed methods studies can bridge EBP and PBE in art therapy.Methods A literature review was conducted using nine electronic databases and additional sources. Four mixed methods studies examining the effectiveness of art therapy were identified.Results The types of art therapy interventions and patient groups varied across the included studies. Most studies employed convergent mixed methods designs, but only one study explicitly specified its methodological approach, and none provided a rationale for using mixed methods approach. Only one study integrated quantitative and qualitative findings and interpreted narratives drawn from both components.Conclusions Mixed methods research paradigm in contemporary art therapy research can be used to magnify the quantitative findings through qualitative insights and strengthen qualitative findings with quantitative evidence. Nevertheless, the overall rigour of both the quantitative and qualitative studies within mixed methods art therapy research requires critical enhancement.Implications for practice/policy/future Future mixed methods studies in art therapy can be progressed with rigorous incorporation of randomisation, control group and larger sample sizes, clear presentation of method and methodology, and improved integration and synthesis of quantitative and qualitative results.Plain-language summary The rise of evidence-based practice (EBP) in clinical decision-making has sparked concerns about its potential oversight of the subjective elements of practice-based evidence (PBE). In response, mixed methods research has emerged as a promising direction for combining EBP and PBE, particularly in fields such as contemporary art therapy. This study aimed to explore the methodological characteristics of research investigating the effectiveness of art therapy within mixed methods frameworks. Through a literature review, four mixed methods studies were identified, examining various art therapy interventions across diverse patient populations. Predominantly utilising a convergent mixed methods approach, these studies integrated quantitative and qualitative data to offer a refined understanding of service users’ experiences and therapeutic outcomes. While mixed methods research has shown potential to enrich quantitative findings with qualitative insights and vice versa, there is a need for improved methodological rigour in future studies such as randomisation, control groups, larger sample sizes and improved collaboration of quantitative and qualitative data.