Music therapy for palliative care: A realist review
McConnell T, Porter S
Palliative & supportive care · 35 citations
How it was studied
- Design
- Systematic review (classified by our AI screen)
- Studied in
- People
- Main outcome
- Health markers and function
Who paid for it
- Funding
- Independent funding
- University or hospital
- Queen's University Belfast
- Government
- Public Health Agency
- University or hospital
- Queen's University
- Grants
- Public Health Agency (STL/5091/14)
Based on 3 listed funder(s).
Publication
- Published
- 2016-10-24 · Palliat Support Care · vol. 15 · issue 4 · pp. 454–464
- Publisher
- Cambridge University Press
- Cited
- 83 citations · more than 98% of similar papers · 9.2× the field average
- Impact
- Top 10% most cited in its field
- References
- 89 works
- Access
- Open access (repository copy)
- Research areas
- Music Therapy and Health · Art Therapy and Mental Health · Neuroscience and Music Perception
- Keywords
- Music therapy, CINAHL, Palliative care, Medicine, MEDLINE, Psychotherapist, Nursing, Psychology, Physical therapy, Psychological intervention
- MeSH
- humans, treatment outcome, music therapy, palliative care, emotions, spirituality, social support
2 authors
From GB
- Tracey McConnell · correspondingQueen's University Belfast
- Sam PorterQueen's University Belfast
Abstract
Objective
Music therapy has experienced a rising demand as an adjunct therapy for symptom management among palliative care patients. We conducted a realist review of the literature to develop a greater understanding of how music therapy might benefit palliative care patients and the contextual mechanisms that promote or inhibit its successful implementation.
Method
We searched electronic databases (CINAHL, Embase, Medline, and PsychINFO) for literature containing information on music therapy for palliative care. In keeping with the realist approach, we examined all relevant literature to develop theories that could explain how music therapy works.
Results
A total of 51 articles were included in the review. Music therapy was found to have a therapeutic effect on the physical, psychological, emotional, and spiritual suffering of palliative care patients. We also identified program mechanisms that help explain music therapy's therapeutic effects, along with facilitating contexts for implementation.
Significance of results
Music therapy may be an effective nonpharmacological approach to managing distressing symptoms in palliative care patients. The findings also suggest that group music therapy may be a cost-efficient and effective way to support staff caring for palliative care patients. We encourage others to continue developing the evidence base in order to expand our understanding of how music therapy works, with the aim of informing and improving the provision of music therapy for palliative care patients.
Abstract via Europe PMC. Copyright remains with the authors or publisher.
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