Virtual Reality-Based Music Therapy in Palliative Care: A Pilot Implementation Trial

Area of Science:

• Palliative Care
• Integrative Medicine
• Human-Computer Interaction

Background:

• Music therapy (MT) and virtual reality (VR) show promise for improving patient experiences during serious illness.
• Implementing novel therapeutic interventions requires evaluation of feasibility, usability, and acceptability.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the feasibility, usability, and acceptability of a virtual reality-based music therapy (VR-MT) intervention.
• To gather patient feedback for refining the VR-MT intervention.

Main Methods:

• A pilot implementation study utilizing mixed methods.
• A two-day VR-MT intervention where patients created personalized soundtracks paired with VR environments.
• Inclusion of hospitalized patients with palliative care needs.

Main Results:

• 17 out of 23 patients completed the VR-MT intervention, with high usability scores and 53% reporting maximum satisfaction.
• Participants reported positive emotional and physical responses to the VR-MT intervention.
• Feedback was collected on intervention length, frequency, VR options, and delivery timing.

Conclusions:

• The VR-MT intervention demonstrated feasibility, usability, and acceptability among hospitalized palliative care patients.
• The findings support further investigation into the clinical outcomes of VR-MT.