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The effects of interactive music therapy on hospitalized children with cancer: a pilot study
Maru E Barrera1, Mary H Rykov, Sandra L Doyle
1Department of Psychology, The Hospital for Sick Children & University of Toronto, On, Canada. maru.barrera@sickkids.ca
Insights
Interactive music therapy significantly improved mood and well-being in hospitalized children with cancer. Parents also noted improved play performance in preschoolers and adolescents, suggesting music therapy benefits pediatric oncology patients.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Oncology
- Child Psychology
- Music Therapy
Background:
- Effectiveness of music therapy in pediatric healthcare settings requires further establishment.
- This pilot study explores interactive music therapy's impact on hospitalized children with cancer.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the effectiveness of interactive music therapy in reducing anxiety.
- To evaluate the impact of music therapy on the comfort levels of hospitalized children with cancer.
Main Methods:
- Pilot study involving 65 children and their parents.
- Pre- and post-therapy assessments included children's mood ratings (schematic faces), parental play performance ratings, and satisfaction questionnaires.
Main Results:
- Significant improvement in children's self-reported mood post-music therapy.
- Parents reported improved play performance in preschoolers and adolescents, but not school-aged children.
- Qualitative data indicated a positive impact of music therapy on children's overall well-being.
Conclusions:
- Preliminary findings suggest interactive music therapy may benefit hospitalized pediatric hematology/oncology patients.
- Further research, including randomized controlled trials, is recommended to confirm these encouraging results.
Background:
The use of music therapy with children in health settings has been documented, but its effectiveness has not yet been well established. This pilot study is a preliminary exploration of the effectiveness of interactive music therapy in reducing anxiety and increasing the comfort of hospitalized children with cancer.
Methods:
Pre- and post-music therapy measures were obtained from children (N = 65) and parents. The measures consisted of children's ratings of mood using schematic faces, parental ratings of the child's play performance, and satisfaction questionnaires completed by parents, children and staff.
Results:
There was a significant improvement in children's ratings of their feelings from pre- to post-music therapy. Parents perceived an improved play performance after music therapy in pre-schoolers and adolescents but not in school-aged children. Qualitative analyses of children's and parents' comments suggested a positive impact of music therapy on the child's well-being.
Conclusions:
These preliminary findings are encouraging and suggest beneficial effects of interactive music therapy with hospitalized pediatric hematology/oncology patients. In future studies replicating these findings should be conducted in a randomized control trial.