Exploring the Effects of Music Therapy on Pediatric Pain: Phase 1

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to assess the effects of music therapy on pain and anxiety in pediatric burn patients during nursing procedures. Nine subjects were randomly selected to participate in this study. Qualitative and quantitative data was collected on the patients' pain, anxiety, heart rate, blood oxygenation, and engagement level through measurement tools and interviews. The results from the qualitative and quantitative data indicated that music therapy reduced pain, anxiety, and behavioral distress. The quantitative data were analyzed and an inverse relationship between engagement in music therapy and lower behavioral distress scores was noted. Additionally, a linear relationship between engagement and behavioral distress was noted; significance was found but was moderated by the age of the child. However, no significant relationship was found between heart rate and behavioral distress. The results from the qualitative data from the interviews with the patients, parents, nurses and music therapist indicated that music therapy reduced pain and anxiety, and that engagement in music therapy enhanced relaxation. In addition, music therapy positively affected patients' mood, compliance, and the relaxation level. Finally, parents/guardians and nurses involved in the study reported that music therapy helped them to feel more relaxed as well.

Music therapy as procedural support for invasive medical procedures: toward the development of music therapy theory

“…Cited sources of information on the Gate Control Theory of Pain included: Livingston, 1943Livingston, , 1953Melzack 1961Melzack , 1973Melzack and Wall, 1965;and Sarafino, 1997. Interestingly, the Gate Control Theory of Pain was referenced by authors who adopted differing approaches to music therapy as procedural support including musical alternate engagement (Noguchi, 2006;Whitehead-Pleaux, Baryza, & Sheridan, 2006;Whitehead-Pleaux, Zebrowski, Baryza, & Sheridan, 2007;Wolfe & Waldon, 2009), integration (Loewy et al, 1997), and various forms of music-assisted relaxation . Authors in the reviewed publications cited additional theories related to pain perception, including multidimensional models of pain perception, wherein sensory-discriminative, cognitive-evaluative, and motivationalaffective dimensions of pain perception may be altered to therapeutic benefit (Melzack, Weisz, & Sprague, 1963;Weisenberg, 1994).…”

“…(Loewy, 1999, p. 199) Assessment occurring prior to a procedure or assessment taking place throughout the course of the procedure determines what form of procedural support is chosen, and how the provision of procedural support may change over time (Daveson, 1999;Frattiane et al, 2001;Loewy et al, 1997;Turry, 1997;Whitehead-Pleaux et al, 2006;Wolfe & Waldon, 2009). Assessment may determine what type of music is used, how the music is used, the level of patient engagement required, and how the procedural support approach can align with the patient's coping resources (Walworth, 2005;Whitehead-Pleaux et al, 2006;Whitehead-Pleaux, Zebrowski, Baryza, & Sheridan, 2007).…”

“…(p. 37) For the purposes of discussing the data, the two roles will be delineated as separate, although their true integrated nature will be revealed during later discussion of the relationships between concepts. The therapist's role included the following functions: providing cues for desired responses (e.g., focusing on music or cueing deep breathing) Kallay, 1997;Pfaff et al, 1989;Whitehead-Pleaux et al, 2006, 2007Wolfe & Waldon, 2009), redirecting attention to the music or task when the patient orients to the procedure , providing positive reinforcement when the patient attends to music or task (Noguchi, 2006), synergizing with the patient during active music making (Loewy, 1999), providing reassurance and emotional support (Daveson, 1999;Edwards, 1995Edwards, , 1999Whitehead-Pleaux et al, 2006), providing positive suggestions or clarifications through sung lyrics or spoken words (Edwards, 1999;Turry, 1997), validating patients' emotions and sensations, and eliciting patients' emotional experiences (Edwards, 2005;Turry, 1997). The role of the therapist was also described as being emergent and responsive to patient needs as they evolve over time (Edwards, 2005).…”

Stimulation Therapies and the Relevance of Fractal Dynamics to the Treatment of Diseases

“…The use of music for the reduction of pain has been researched in hospital and post-operation settings [122]- [124], for pediatric pain [125]- [127], and pain conditions such as labor, chronic, acute, and malignant pain [128]- [130]. However, a systematic review showed minor benefits of music therapy in pain treatment and concluded that the role of music was questionable in its clinical importance [131].…”

“…However, a systematic review showed minor benefits of music therapy in pain treatment and concluded that the role of music was questionable in its clinical importance [131]. Yet, another review on pediatric pain suggested further research was required and summarized the possible effects of music therapy through three interpretations [125]. The first interpretation being the allowance of sensory stimuli and the reduction of noxious stimuli transferred through the neural gate by means of the gate-control theory of pain.…”