Music Therapy for Seniors at End-of-Life: Literature Review and a Preliminary Randomized Feasibility Study

Irina AngelKirsten Davis*, Joanne Davidson, Alison Fraser and Helena Daudt

Music Therapy for Seniors at End-of-Life: Literature Review and a Preliminary Randomized Feasibility Study.

Music therapy is part of the care plan in many end-of-life settings, though several authors remain cautious about its
effectiveness to improve EOL symptoms and patient well-being.

Our primary goal was to design and test the feasibility of a clinical trial protocol that would address the main critiques of MT trials
previously reported in the literature.

Approximately 25% of eligible participants chose to participate. The consent rate was 55% with 70% of participants completing all MT sessions. All participants completed more than 60% of questionnaires.

Although our protocol could not be considered feasible based on the parameters we originally set, we argue that our study provides
enough data to make adjustments to our original trial protocol, which could lead to the collection of reliable evidence related to the effectiveness of MT for seniors at EOL.

We recommend future studies to use block randomization and allocation concealment, focus on one primary outcome and conduct intention-to-treat analysis. Music therapy has been extensively used to support seniors’ health and social integration, with positive effects on
anxiety levels and psychosocial behavior. In the psycho-spiritual domain, MT has facilitated reminiscence and life review, emotional expression, and clarification of values and beliefs.

Furthermore, qualitative studies suggest that caregivers are positively affected and feel more connected with patients when MT is used. MT may also benefit the healthcare system by reducing medication costs and improving staff utilization.

Music therapy supports many of the domains identified by the National Coalition for Hospice and Palliative Care’s Clinical Practice Guidelines for Quality Palliative Care.

Palliat Med Hosp Care Open J. 2019; 5(1): 4-13. doi: 10.17140/PMHCOJ-5-131

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