Music Therapy Intervention to Reduce Caregiver Distress at End of Life: A Feasibility Study

Kevin J Whitford; Angela M Ulrich; Brianna E Larsen; Christina M Phelps; Martha J Siska; Maureen L Bigelow; Travis J Dockter; Christina Wood; Monica P Walton; Amy J Stelpflug; Maria I Lapid

doi:10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2023.01.009

Music Therapy Intervention to Reduce Caregiver Distress at End of Life: A Feasibility Study

J Pain Symptom Manage. 2023 May;65(5):e417-e423. doi: 10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2023.01.009. Epub 2023 Jan 19.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Mayo Clinic Hospice (K.J.W., C.M.P., M.J.S., M.L.B., A.J.S., M.I.L.), Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA; Division of Hospital Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine (K.J.W.), Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA. Electronic address: whitford.kevin@mayo.edu.
² Biomedical Statistics and Informatics (A.M.U., T.J.D.), Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA.
³ Palliative Medicine (B.E.L., C.W.), Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA.
⁴ Mayo Clinic Hospice (K.J.W., C.M.P., M.J.S., M.L.B., A.J.S., M.I.L.), Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA.
⁵ Department of Psychiatry and Psychology (M.P.W., M.I.L.), Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA.
⁶ Mayo Clinic Hospice (K.J.W., C.M.P., M.J.S., M.L.B., A.J.S., M.I.L.), Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA; Department of Psychiatry and Psychology (M.P.W., M.I.L.), Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA.

PMID: 36682675
DOI: 10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2023.01.009

Abstract

Background: Music therapy (MT) can relieve distressing end-of-life symptoms, but little is known regarding its effect on caregivers who are at risk for emotional distress as their loved ones approach death.

Measures: Quality of life (Linear Analogue Self-Assessment), depressive and anxiety symptoms (Patient Health Questionnaire for Depression and Anxiety), and stress (Role Overload Measure) pre-MT, post-MT and at 6-month follow-up, as well as a satisfaction survey post-MT.

Intervention: Single MT session for 20-45 minutes OUTCOMES: 15/20 completed MT intervention, 14 also completed pre-MT and post-MT assessments, and 9 completed assessments at all 3 timepoints. Post-MT satisfaction survey (n=14) showed 100% of caregivers were very satisfied with MT and would recommend to others, and found MT very effective for emotional support (85.7%), stress relief (78.6%), spiritual support (71.4%), general feeling of wellness (71.4%), relaxation (69.2%), and pain relief (33.3%).

Conclusions: Research on MT is feasible for caregivers of inpatient hospice patients.

Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03322228.

Keywords: Quality of life; caregiver burden; hospice; inpatient.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Caregivers* / psychology
Death
Feasibility Studies
Humans
Music Therapy*
Quality of Life / psychology

Associated data

ClinicalTrials.gov/NCT03322228