The Movie Project

Proposal
Indus Children's Cancer Hospital
Psycho-oncology department

Neha Binte Shaheen and Syed Raamiz Rizvi

The Movie Project Proposal

Contents
Project
Rationale:.....................................................................................................
..............................................3
Project
Objective: ....................................................................................................
.............................................3
Approach: ....................................................................................................
...........................................................3
Literature
Review: ........................................................................................................
........................................4
Works
Cited ............................................................................................................
...............................................5

The Movie Project Proposal

Project Rationale:
Since this is a hospital that caters to children, we must keep in mind the
fact that they have needs like every other healthy child, and with the
summer vacations coming up, coming to the hospital to undergo
treatment instead of going out to play with their friends or siblings would
become increasingly hard for them. Therefore we have come up with this
project so that it makes their summer vacations enjoyable and their visit
to the hospital something they might look forward to. Visual aid can
provide a positive distraction, decrease in perception of pain, and reduced
anxiety of patients experiencing the stress of a hospital visit or medical
procedure, all of which can contribute to an improved outcome for that
patient. The influence of the media on the psychosocial development of
children is considered to be profound.
In a survey of more than 600 cancer survivors, the statement that most
said that they want others to know is, I need to laugh or just
forget about cancer for a while!"
Moreover, through visual aids, we also plan on providing them awareness
on topics such as sexual and child abuse, as these children are unable to
attend school and it is vital that they have knowledge about this.

Project Objective:
We plan on setting up an age-appropriate animated movie session once a
week on (day: to-be-decided) in the seminar room at (time: to-be-decided)
and provide snacks and refreshments afterwards.

Approach:

The Movie Project Proposal

We would set up a time and day, one day per week, on a consensus by
the members of psycho-oncology department, that would be feasible for
them, so they are present to monitor the activity going on. The seminar
room will be pre-booked for this project every week. We will put up flyers
and personally tell all our patients about the decided time and day so
they make preparations beforehand and we have a maximum number of
attendees.
We will play age-appropriate animated movies, preferably dubbed in Urdu.
A member from our department will watch the movie beforehand to
ensure it has no inappropriate content, including violence.
Short animated clips on sexual and child abuse will be played in between
or after the animated movie.
Snacks and refreshments will be provided afterwards.
Criteria for movie selection:

Animated
Age appropriate
Informative and educational
Preferably a moral at the end
Comprising of as less violence as possible

For example:

Finding Nemo
Toy story
A bug's life
Shrek
Dora the Explorer
Sesame street

Literature:
Movies are presented here as an educational force, with the ability to
promote altruism and self-improvement. The power of the narrative
stimulates emotions, and these emotional responses influence learning
and behavior (Linda Jones Rufer, M.D., F.A.A.P.)
Cinematic admiration refers to the ability of movies to promote selfimprovement, or goal

The Movie Project Proposal

setting. This admiration occurs when a person observes excellence of

character or skill, resulting in motivation to improve the self and pursue
goals (Algoe & Haidt, 2009; Niemiec, 2012d).
Social cognitive theory purports that one way children learn is by
modeling the behavior of others, whether parents, teachers, peersor
characters in movies. [ Banduras (1977, 1986) ]
Research found out Visual art was more effective in diminishing the levels
of depression of patients receiving day chemotherapy. (Staricoff, Duncan,
& Wright)
Art that distracts and engages a patients mind with cheerful and calming
colors, forms, and images can...reduce the high levels of anxiety that are
often present in hospital waiting rooms. When patients are relaxed and
receptive, they place themselves in the best possible state of mind and
spirit for medicine to do its work (Homicki & K. Joyce, 2004)
Cartoons could be a beneficial way of educating patients and empowering
them to cope better with their long term conditions, research indicates.
"Humor is frequently and naturally used by people with chronic illnesses
to help them adjust and understand what is happening to them," explains
the study's leader. "Our study has shown that cartoons could provide
clarity to patients and be a way to engage with them. It is an untapped
resource and could be a potential approach to support self-management."
(University of Hamptons: Associate Professor Dr Anne Kennedy)

Work Cited:
Staricoff, R. L., Duncan, J. P., & Wright, M. (n.d.). A Study of the Effects of
Visual and Performing Arts in Health Care. Chelsea & Westminster:
Chelsea and Westminster Research Project.
https://www.google.com.pk/url?
sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=3&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0CC
wQFjAC&url=http%3A%2F%2Frepository.upenn.edu%2Fcgi
%2Fviewcontent.cgi%3Farticle%3D1070%26context
%3Dmapp_capstone&ei=wnaRVZ_vDsH3UtGBq5gO&usg=AFQjCNGmyaxX
KsSIoUEfl7OED0WJrUXtCw&bvm=bv.96783405,d.ZGU

The Movie Project Proposal

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2792691/
http://lorihope.com/helpmelive/to-laugh/
University of Southampton. "Is laughter the best medicine? Cartoons
could help patients cope with chronic conditions." ScienceDaily.
ScienceDaily, 28 March 2014.
<www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/03/140328075817.htm>.