Prospective Study on Music Therapy in Terminally Ill Cancer Patients during Specialized Inpatient Palliative Care

TY - JOUR

T1 - Prospective Study on Music Therapy in Terminally Ill Cancer Patients during Specialized Inpatient Palliative Care

AU - Kordovan, Sarah

AU - Preissler, Pia

AU - Kamphausen, Anne

AU - Bokemeyer, Carsten

AU - Oechsle, Karin

PY - 2016/4

Y1 - 2016/4

N2 - OBJECTIVE: This study was a prospective evaluation of feasibility, acceptance, and potential beneficial effects of music therapy in terminally ill cancer patients on a specialized palliative care inpatient ward.METHODS: Intervention had to consist of at least two sessions, but frequency and duration was left to the patients` decision. Different music therapy methods were offered to the patient at the beginning of every session. Patients rated their subjective benefit. Disease-related and sociodemographic factors were considered as potentially influencing factors.RESULTS: A total of 166 music therapy sessions were performed with 41 patients (average, 4; range, 2-10). Average session duration was 41 minutes (range, 20-70). Most favored methods were therapeutic conversation in 84% of sessions; listening to relaxing music, 39%; playing an instrument, 31%; and music-lead imagination, 11%. Receptive music therapy was applied in 45%, active forms in 25%, a combination of both in 7%, and therapeutic conversation only in 23%. Music therapy was rated to be "helpful" in 68%. Positive effects were significantly associated with frequency (p = 0.009) and duration (p = 0.040), living in a partnership (p = 0.017), having children (p = 0.035), psycho-oncologic therapy (p = 0.043), experience with music therapy (p = 0.007), role of music in life (p = 0.035), playing an instrument (p = 0.021), and singing regularly (p = 0.003).CONCLUSION: Music therapy techniques, especially receptive methods, are feasible and well accepted in terminally ill cancer patients. Therapeutic conversation seems to play an important role. Frequency and duration of music therapy, previous experience with music and music therapy, as well as sociodemographic factors influence positive effects of music therapy.

AB - OBJECTIVE: This study was a prospective evaluation of feasibility, acceptance, and potential beneficial effects of music therapy in terminally ill cancer patients on a specialized palliative care inpatient ward.METHODS: Intervention had to consist of at least two sessions, but frequency and duration was left to the patients` decision. Different music therapy methods were offered to the patient at the beginning of every session. Patients rated their subjective benefit. Disease-related and sociodemographic factors were considered as potentially influencing factors.RESULTS: A total of 166 music therapy sessions were performed with 41 patients (average, 4; range, 2-10). Average session duration was 41 minutes (range, 20-70). Most favored methods were therapeutic conversation in 84% of sessions; listening to relaxing music, 39%; playing an instrument, 31%; and music-lead imagination, 11%. Receptive music therapy was applied in 45%, active forms in 25%, a combination of both in 7%, and therapeutic conversation only in 23%. Music therapy was rated to be "helpful" in 68%. Positive effects were significantly associated with frequency (p = 0.009) and duration (p = 0.040), living in a partnership (p = 0.017), having children (p = 0.035), psycho-oncologic therapy (p = 0.043), experience with music therapy (p = 0.007), role of music in life (p = 0.035), playing an instrument (p = 0.021), and singing regularly (p = 0.003).CONCLUSION: Music therapy techniques, especially receptive methods, are feasible and well accepted in terminally ill cancer patients. Therapeutic conversation seems to play an important role. Frequency and duration of music therapy, previous experience with music and music therapy, as well as sociodemographic factors influence positive effects of music therapy.

KW - Adult

KW - Aged

KW - Aged, 80 and over

KW - Female

KW - Humans

KW - Male

KW - Middle Aged

KW - Music Therapy

KW - Neoplasms

KW - Palliative Care

KW - Program Evaluation

KW - Prospective Studies

KW - Terminally Ill

KW - Journal Article

KW - Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

U2 - 10.1089/jpm.2015.0384

DO - 10.1089/jpm.2015.0384

M3 - SCORING: Journal article

C2 - 26894922

VL - 19

SP - 394

EP - 399

JO - J PALLIAT MED

JF - J PALLIAT MED

SN - 1096-6218

IS - 4

ER -