Virtual music therapy during the COVID-19 pandemic: an updated scoping review

The objective of this update to a previously published scoping review was to map how music therapists used virtual music therapy during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Virtual music therapy underwent significant development during the COVID-19 pandemic. Consequently, the number of publications increased dramatically compared to early 2021, when only 10 records were available. An update to the previous scoping review was necessary to explore the current state of this emerging music therapy discipline and provide important information for health care practitioners, scholars, and researchers.

This scoping review included studies examining how music therapists (population) delivered virtual, remote, or online music therapy (concept) across all client groups during the COVID-19 pandemic (context). All types of evidence were included except for literature reviews, newspaper articles, essays, editorials, letters to the editor, and bachelor's theses. The search strategy was conducted in English across relevant databases and journals.

Following the JBI methodology for scoping reviews, we updated a scoping review published in 2021. Available evidence was searched for in databases, including searches for unpublished studies, gray literature, and relevant journal archives, along with manual searches of reference lists. The search was limited from October 2020 (the date of the previous search) until December 2024. Two independent reviewers screened all reports against the eligibility criteria and performed the data extraction.

The global music therapy community adapted to the restrictions resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic through a significant expansion of virtual music therapy. A total of 145 new records, along with 5 records from the original review, were included in this scoping review. The papers were from North America (n=63), Europe (n=34), Asia (n=19), and Oceania (n=16), with the rest developed through international cooperation (n=18). Most texts described virtual music therapy in the form of synchronous video calls. We reported the characteristics of the records, the types of texts, the client groups to which virtual music therapy was delivered, and the platforms and equipment used. We identified research papers (n=103), other texts (n=44), study protocols, and an evidence implementation report. We also described the challenges, facilitators, and barriers, along with the music therapy methods. Most frequently, a combination of active and receptive methods was used, with an emphasis on listening, singing, and music-based relaxation or imagery methods. Virtual music therapy was delivered to a wide range of clients, including those with various medical diagnoses and mental health issues; caregivers; and health care workers. Virtual music therapy took place in clients' homes, hospitals, or educational settings.

The virtual music therapy field experienced significant growth during the COVID-19 pandemic and developed into a distinct area of music therapy. This scoping review reports on a substantial body of relevant evidence, providing detailed insights into the nuances of virtual music therapy practice, which may remain useful even beyond pandemic restrictions. Future research is needed to examine the impact of virtual music therapy in the post-COVID-19 era and its potential as a complementary approach to face-to-face therapy.

OSF https://osf.io/tnw3c/.

A Czech-language version of the abstract of this review is available: http://links.lww.com/SRX/A189.