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A Randomized Controlled Feasibility Study to Evaluate the Online Delivery of Storytelling Through Music With Oncology
Carolyn S Phillips1, Sue E Morris, Heather Woods
1Author Affiliations: School of Nursing, The University of Texas at Austin (Drs Phillips, Young, and Stuifbergen); Phyllis F. Cantor Center for Research in Nursing and Patient Care Services (Drs Phillips and Mazzola, Ms Xiong, and Dr Hammer) and Department of Psychosocial Oncology and Palliative Care (Dr Morris), Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts; Ohana, Center for Child and Adolescent Behavioral Health, Monterey, California (Ms Woods); and The Leonard P. Zakim Center for Integrative Therapies and Healthy Living, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts (Dr Ligibel).
Abstract Background:
Oncology nurses frequently contend with intense work-related emotions stemming from their roles, which include bearing witness to suffering, managing end-of-life care, and navigating ethical dilemmas. These emotional challenges can lead to burnout, compassion fatigue, and overall psychological distress.
Objective:
To determine the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary effect of implementing Storytelling Through Music (STM) online with oncology nurses.
Intervention/Methods:
This study (trial registration: NCT04775524) was a 2-group, randomized wait-list controlled trial, utilizing quantitative and qualitative methods. STM is a 6-week intervention that combines storytelling, reflective writing, songwriting, and psychoeducation. Data were collected in both groups at 3 timepoints and analyzed with descriptive statistics, conventional content analysis, and nonparametric tests.
Results:
The oncology nurses (n = 24) were primarily female (96%) and White (79%), with an average of 15.98 (range, 2-51) years of nursing experience. All STM participants completed the intervention and found it acceptable. STM participants had greater improvements in burnout, secondary traumatic stress, anxiety, depression, and posttraumatic growth.
Conclusion:
The online delivery of STM proved feasible and acceptable, demonstrating potential scalability across diverse geographic locations, and showed promise in reducing psychological distress and burnout. Future research should consider larger-scale studies with diverse participant demographics and settings to validate these findings further.
Implications For Practice:
Results highlight the potential value of integrating expressive arts into comprehensive support programs for nurses. By implementing interventions that acknowledge and support the emotional demands of their work, healthcare organizations can better equip oncology nurses to navigate the complexities of their roles while maintaining their well-being.
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