MT-VOICE: A Community-Engaged Qualitative Study to Develop a Person-Centered Music Therapy Assessment for Older...

Assessment is fundamental to music therapy, underpinning effective therapeutic planning. Despite existing tools for older adults, there remains a need for holistic, strengths-based, music and person-centered assessments that include older adults' perspectives. This article reports on phase one of a four-phase study. Phase 1 evaluated and refined the Music Therapy Assessment for Older Adults, Revision One (MTAOA-R1) as part of the development of a new assessment tool, the MT-VOICE (Music Therapy Assessment for Older Adults-Valuing Older Adults through Comprehensive Assessment). Through qualitative inquiry and a community-engaged design framework, focus groups of music therapists [MTs] (n = 14), allied health professionals [AHPs] (n = 8), and older adults [OAs] (n = 13) explored key elements of the tool and shared their perspectives on assessment with OAs to enhance relevance and person-centered focus. Data were analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis. Informed by the study's research questions, 5 predetermined categories guided deductive coding and analysis: (a) Assessment Tool Components and Structure, (b) Person-Centeredness, (c) Utility, Feasibility, and Implementation, (d) Music Within Assessment, and (e) Perspectives and Experiences of Key Partners. Findings from this analysis informed revisions to the assessment. Revisions included: broadened scope, reduced length, increased person-centered language, open-ended items and narrative spaces, and an expanded (optional) intake section. Music-based items were integrated throughout the tool, and an accompanying assessment manual was created to support training and promote consistency. With increased relevance, clarity, and feasibility, the MT-VOICE offers a comprehensive, music and person-centered tool. Study limitations and directions for subsequent phases are discussed.