2016 American Circus Educators Conference

Circus used as a modality within occupational therapy is a unique approach for cancer survivorship support groups. However, there is a lack of evidence base to support this intervention. Treatment fidelity is critical for the development and testing of an evidence-based intervention. This study’s objective was to investigate the perceived value of circus as a therapeutic modality and its implication for occupational therapy practice as a first step toward informing an evidence base for this novel therapy. A program description of the techniques and underlying concepts for the circus intervention was provided to a convenience sample of cancer program providers, along with a fifteen-question survey designed to gather feedback regarding clarity and feasibility. Responses were analyzed using qualitative and quantitative means to identify key themes and highlight response frequency. Respondents found circus as an occupational therapy modality applicable to cancer survivors as an intervention for health promotion. Findings highlight that circus as an occupational therapy intervention has potential to add to existing cancer support programs.