Music Therapy in Pediatric Palliative Care

Abstract

Research into the value of music therapy in pediatric palliative care (PPC) has identified quality of life as one area of improvement for families caring for a child in the terminal stages of a life-threatening illness. This small-scale investigation collected data in a multisite, international study including Minnesota, USA, and Melbourne, Australia. An exploratory mixed method design used the qualitative data collected through interviews with parents to interpret results from the PedsQL Family Impact Module of overall parental quality of life. Parents described music therapy as resulting in physical improvements of their child by providing comfort and stimulation. They also valued the positive experiences shared by the family in music therapy sessions that were strength oriented and family centered. This highlighted the physical and communication scales within the PedsQL Family Impact Module, where minimal improvements were achieved in contrast to some strong results suggesting diminished quality of life in cognitive and daily activity domains. Despite the significant challenges faced by parents during this difficult time, parents described many positive experiences in music therapy, and the overall score for half of the parents in the study did not diminish. The value of music therapy as a service that addresses the family-centered agenda of PPC is endorsed by this study.

Literature Review of Early Childhood Music Therapy Between 1990-2012

“…Both areas are important for the development of the child and regulation problems often emerge within the population of young children with difficulties. Regulation of emotions was mentioned primarily with pediatric patients (Aldridge, 1993;Ayson, 2008;Barrera, Rykov & Doyle, 2002;Hadley, 1996;Loewy, 2004) while with children with ASD it was mentioned in two cases (Berger, 2002;Lecourt, 1991), within the psychiatric field twice (Brackley, 2012;Hong et al, 1998) as well and in hospice settings (Lindenfelser et al, 2008;Lindenfelser et al, 2012).…”

“…Aasgaard 2005Davies & Rosscornes, 2012;Hall, 2012;Ledger, 2011;Woodward, 2004 e. Beer, 1990;Berger, 2002;Hadley, 1996;Shoemark, 2006 Expressive and regulating qualities (27 different texts) (13) 2002; Burke, 1991;Dun, 1995;Hong et al, 1998;Horvat & O´Neill, 2008;IrgensMoller, 1999;Lecourt, 1991;Levinge, 2011;Tomlinson, 2010;Trevarthen et al, 1998;Salas & Gonzales, 1991;Warnock, 2011b. Aldridge, 1993Ayson, 2008;Bargiel, 2004;Barrera & Rykov, 2002;Berger, 2002;Brackley, 2012;Hadley, 1996;Hong et al, 1998;Lecourt, 1991;Loewy, 2004;Lindenfelser et al, 2004;Lindenfelser et al, 2012;Pasiali, 2012b Other factors (13 different texts) a. development of self, separation, and personal development (11) b. coherence (structuring and categorizing) (2) c. emotional synchronicity (1) a. Beer, 1990;Cunningham, 2011;Horvat & O´Neill, 2008;Levi...…”

“…Dun, 1999;Dun, 2007;Edwards, 1994;Pasiali, 2012b;Shoemark, 1999;Shoemark, 2004 c. Dun, 2007;Lindenfelser et al, 2008;Nall & Everitt, 2005;O´Callaghan & Jordan, 2011;Rees, 2005;Shoemark, 2004 d. Dun, 1995;Elefant & Wigram 2005;Finnigan & Starr, 2010;Gfeller, 1990;Kim et al, 2009;Oldfield, 1991;Skewes & Thompson, 2009;Tomlinson, 2010 e. Ayson, 2008;Dun, 2007;Gold et al, 2001 Supportive factors (33 different texts) a. emotional support and -sharing, nurture and comfort, soothing (17) b. feeling of mastery (6) c. resources and resilience (6) d. self confidence (5) e. coping skills (4) a. Ayson, 2008;Barrera & Rykov 2002;Burke 1991;Cunningham, 2011;Davis, G. 2005;Drake, 2011;Dun, 1995;Dun, 1999;Dun, 2007;Levinge, 2011;Lindenfelser et al, 2012;O´Callaghan & Jordan, 2011;Salas & Gonzales, 1991;Shoemark, 1999;…”

“…(20) b. atmosphere and positive attitude (7) c. new insights, memories (9) d. motivation (8) e. normalization and reduced symptoms (3) a. Aasgaard 2005;Ayson, 2008;Barrera & Rykov, 2002;Bruce & High, 2012;Drake, 2008;Dun, 1999;Dun, 2007;Gfeller, 1990;Hadley, 1996;Hall, 2012;Hendon & Bohon, 2008;Kim et al, 2009;Lecourt, 1991;Lindenfelser et al 2012;Loth, 2008;Oldfield, 1991;Oldfield, 1993;Shoemark & Dearn, 2008;Thompson, 2012 b. Dun, 1999;Dun, 2007;Edwards, 1994;Pasiali, 2012b;Shoemark, 1999;Shoemark, 2004 c. Dun, 2007;Lindenfelser et al, 2008;Nall & Everitt, 2005;O´Callaghan & Jordan, 2011;Rees, 2005;Shoemark, 2004 d. Dun, 1995;Elefant & Wigram 2005;Finnigan & Starr, 2010;Gfeller, 1990;Kim et al, 2009;Oldfield, 1991;Skewes & Thompson, 2009;…”

Designing Responsive Music Making Devices: Creating Positive Exercise Experiences for Seniors

“…The research on active music therapy provides evidence of how music making can have positive effects on an individual. Music therapy has used music making, in both solo and group settings with patients of all ages (Bailey, 2005;Lindenfelser et al, 2012;Perkins & Williamon, 2013;Robb et al, 2008).…”