Polyphonic perspectives: a focus group study of interprofessional staff’s perceptions of music therapy at an inpatient unit for children in mental health care

Abstract

Purpose In an inpatient unit for children in mental health care, a variety of services are provided through interprofessional collaborations. Music therapy is a relatively recent proposition in this context, but there is increasing acceptance for music therapy as a therapeutic method. However, there is limited knowledge about music therapy in this field, and this study aims to address this research gap. Method Through focus group interviews with staff at an inpatient unit in mental health care for children, this article explores interprofessional perspectives of music therapy. A thematic analysis with an inductive approach informed by constructivist grounded theory was used in the analysis of the interviews. Findings Several dimensions were involved in the findings, concerning the children and the interprofessional collaboration. The two main categories that emerged were: “What music therapy offers the children” and “What music therapy contributes to the interprofessional understanding of the children”. Conclusion The interprofessional perspectives of music therapy revealed potentials for emotion regulation, and experience of identity and freedom for the children. As part of the integrated services, music therapy provided a new perspective of the child and enhanced relationship between the child and the health services.

The perception of healthcare professionals, through their own personal experiences, of the use of music therapy in hospitalised children and adolescents

“…Data have also been collected on the opinions of children, adolescents, and parents of the value of MT and the music therapists working with them in their hospital (Docherty et al, 2013;Haase et al, 2020;O'Callaghan et al, 2013;Uggla et al, 2019) and it appears that in all cases, MT provides happy and positive experiences (Patterson et al, 2015). However, although it has been shown that MT interventions with hospitalised children and adolescents have been used for decades with positive effects, there are currently very few studies that specifically describe the perspectives of healthcare professionals regarding the value of MT when applied in these patients (Klyve et al, 2023;Chadder, 2019).…”