Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-8ctnn Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-25T21:37:05.739Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Effect of music therapy on oncologic staff bystanders: A substantive grounded theory

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 June 2009

Clare O'Callaghan  and
Lucanne Magill
Clare O'Callaghan*
Affiliation:
Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Victoria, Australia Department of Medicine, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia Faculty of Music, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
Lucanne Magill
Affiliation:
School of Music, University of Windsor, Windsor, Ontario, Canada
*
Address correspondence and reprint requests to: Clare O'Callaghan, c/o Social Work Department, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Locked Bag 1, A'Beckett St., Victoria, Australia, 8006. E-mail: [email protected]
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Objective:

Oncologic work can be satisfying but also stressful, as staff support patients and families through harsh treatment effects, uncertain illness trajectories, and occasional death. Although formal support programs are available, no research on the effects of staff witnessing patients' supportive therapies exists. This research examines staff responses to witnessing patient-focused music therapy (MT) programs in two comprehensive cancer centers.

Method:

In Study 1, staff were invited to anonymously complete an open-ended questionnaire asking about the relevance of a music therapy program for patients and visitors (what it does; whether it helps). In Study 2, staff were theoretically sampled and interviewed regarding the personal effects of witnessing patient-centered music therapy. Data from each study were comparatively analyzed according to grounded theory procedures. Positive and negative cases were evident and data saturation arguably achieved.

Results:

In Study 1, 38 staff unexpectedly described personally helpful emotional, cognitive, and team effects and consequent improved patient care. In Study 2, 62 staff described 197 multiple personal benefits and elicited patient care improvements. Respondents were mostly nursing (57) and medical (13) staff. Only three intrusive effects were reported: audibility, initial suspicion, and relaxation causing slowing of work pace. A substantive grounded theory emerged applicable to the two cancer centers: Staff witnessing MT can experience personally helpful emotions, moods, self-awarenesses, and teamwork and thus perceive improved patient care. Intrusive effects are uncommon. Music therapy's benefits for staff are attributed to the presence of live music, the human presence of the music therapist, and the observed positive effects in patients and families.

Significance of results:

Patient-centered oncologic music therapy in two cancer centers is an incidental supportive care modality for staff, which can reduce their stress and improve work environments and perceived patient care. Further investigation of the incidental benefits for oncologic staff witnessing patient-centered MT, through interpretive and positivist measures, is warranted.

Keywords

CancerOncologyMusic therapyStaffStress
Type
Original Articles
Information
Palliative & Supportive Care , Volume 7 , Issue 2 , June 2009 , pp. 219 - 228
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2009

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

Aasgaard, T. (1999). Music therapy as milieu in the hospice and paediatric oncology ward. In Music Therapy in Palliative care: New Voices, Aldridge, D. (ed.), pp. 29–42. London: Jessica Kingsley.Google Scholar
Amadoru, S. & McFerran, K. (2007). The role of music therapy in children's hospices. European Journal of Palliative Care, 14, 124–127.Google Scholar
Boldt, S. (1996). The effect of music therapy on the psychological well-being, physical comfort, and exercise endurance of bone marrow transplant patients. Journal of Music Therapy, 33, 164–188.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Brady, V. (2007). Death and dying in literature: Human growth and human suffering (Plenary). Paper presented at the Australian Palliative Care Conference.Google Scholar
Bunt, L. & Marston-Wyld, J. (1995). Where words fail, music takes over: A collaborative study by a music therapist and a counselor in the context of cancer care. Music Therapy Perspectives, 13, 46–50.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Burns, S.J., Harbuz, M.S., Hucklebridge, F., et al. (2001). A pilot study into the therapeutic effects of music therapy at a cancer help center. Alternative Therapies, 7, 48–56.Google Scholar
Bylund, C.L., Brown, R.F., di Ciccone, B.L., et al. (2008). Training faculty to facilitate communication skills training: Development and evaluation of a workshop. Patient Education and Counseling, 70, 430–436.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Cassileth, B. & Vickers, A. (2004). Massage therapy for symptom control: Outcome study at a major cancer center. Journal of Pain and Symptom Management, 28, 244–249.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Cassileth, B., Vickers, A., Deng, G., et al. (2005). PDQ Integrative Oncology: Complementary Therapies in Cancer Care. Philadelphia: Decker.Google Scholar
Cassileth, B., Vickers, A. & Magill, L. (2003). Music therapy for mood disturbance during hospitalization for autologous stem cell transplantation. Cancer, 98, 2723–2729.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Clark, M., Isaacks-Downton, G., Wells, N., et al. (2006). Use of preferred music to reduce emotional distress and symptom activity during radiation therapy. Journal of Music Therapy, 63, 247–265.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Coffey, A. & Atkinson, P. (1996). Making Sense of Qualitative Data: Complimentary Research Strategies. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.Google Scholar
Corbin, J. & Strauss, A. (2008). Basics of Qualitative Research 3e: Techniques and Procedures for Developing Grounded Theory. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Dileo, C. & Loewy, J. (2005). Music Therapy at the End of Life. Cherry Hill, NJ: Jeffrey Books.Google Scholar
Felstein, M. & Gemma, P. (1995). Oncology nurses and chronic compounded grief. Cancer Nursing, 18, 228–236.Google Scholar
Figley, C. (1995). Compassion fatigue as a secondary traumatic stress disorder: An overview. In Compassion Fatigue, Figley, C. (ed.), pp. 1–20. New York: Brunner/Mazel.Google Scholar
Fillion, L., Dupuis, R., Tremblay, I., et al. (2006). Enhancing meaning in palliative care practice: A meaning-centered intervention to promote job satisfaction. Palliative & Supportive Care, 4, 333–344.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hilliard, R. (2005). Hospice and Palliative Care Music Therapy: A Guide to Program Development and Clinical Care. Cherry Hill, NJ: Jeffrey Books.Google Scholar
Hogan, B. (1999). Music therapy at the end of life: Searching for the rite of passage. In Music Therapy in Palliative Care: New Voices, Aldridge, D. (ed.), pp. 68–81. London: Jessica Kingsley.Google Scholar
Holland, J. & Neimeyer, R. (2005). Reducing the risk of burn-out in end-of-life settings: The role of daily spiritual experiences and training. Palliative & Supportive Care, 3, 173–181.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Kain, Z., Caldwell-Andrews, A. & Krivutza, D. M. (2004). Interactive music therapy as treatment for preoperative anxiety in children: A randomized control trial. Anesthesia and Analgesia, 98, 1260–1266.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kash, K., Holland, J., Breitbart, W., et al. (2000). Stress and burnout in oncology. Oncology Nursing Forum, 14, 1621–1633.Google ScholarPubMed
Kitto, S.C., Chesters, J. & Grbich, C. (2008). Criteria for authors in the submission and assessment of qualitative research articles for the Medical Journal of Australia. Medical Journal of Australia, 188, 243–246.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Le Blanc, P.M., Hox, J.J., Schaufeli, W.B., et al. (2007). Take care! The evaluation of a team-based burnout intervention program for oncology care providers. Journal of Applied Psychology, 92, 213–227.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Lee, C. (ed.) (1995). Lonely Waters: Proceedings of the International Conference, Music Therapy in Palliative Care. Oxford: Sobell Publishing.Google Scholar
Lewis, A.E. (1999). Reducing burnout: Development of an oncology staff bereavement program. Oncology Nursing Forum, 26, 1065–1069.Google ScholarPubMed
Magill, L. (2005). Music therapy: Enhancing spirituality at the end-of-life. In Music Therapy at the End of Life, Dileo, D. & Loewy, L. (eds.), pp. 3–18. Cherry Hill, NJ: Jeffrey Books.Google Scholar
Magill, L. (2006). The role of music therapy in integrative medicine. Journal of the Society for Integrative Oncology, 4, 79–81.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Magill, L. (2007). The spiritual meaning of music therapy to surviving caregivers of advanced cancer patients. Dissertation Abstracts International, 68(1A), 3247763.Google Scholar
Magill Bailey, L. (1983). The effects of live versus tape recorded music in hospitalized cancer patients. Music Therapy, 3, 17–28.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Magill Bailey, L. (1984). The use of songs in music therapy with cancer patients and their families. Music Therapy, 4, 5–17.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Martin, J. (1989). The Next Step Forward: Music Therapy with the Terminally Ill. New York: Calvary Hospital.Google Scholar
Medland, J., Howard-Ruben, J. & Whitaker, E. (2004). Fostering psychological wellness in oncology nurses: Addressing burnout and social support in the workplace. Oncology Nursing Forum, 31, 47–54.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Mount, B. (1986). Dealing with our losses. Journal of Clinical Oncology, 4, 1127–1134.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Munro, S. & Mount, B.M. (1978). Music therapy in palliative care. Canadian Medical Association Journal, 119, 1029–1034.Google ScholarPubMed
O'Brien, E. (1999). Cancer patients' evaluation of a music therapy program. In MusicMedicine (Vol. 3), Rebollo Pratt, R. & Erdonmez Grocke, D. (eds.), pp. 285–300. Melbourne: Faculty of Music, University of Melbourne.Google Scholar
O'Brien, E. (2005). Songwriting with adult patients in oncology and clinical haematology. In Songwriting Methods, Techniques and Clinical Applications for Music Therapy Clinicians, Educators and Students, Baker, F. & Wigram, T. (eds.), pp. 185–205. London: Jessica Kingsley.Google Scholar
O'Callaghan, C. (2004). Music therapy in palliative care. In The Oxford Textbook of Palliative Medicine (3rd ed.), Hanks, G., MacDonald, N., Cherny, N., et al. (eds.), pp. 1041–1046. Oxford: Oxford University Press.Google Scholar
O'Callaghan, C. (2006). Clinical issues: Music therapy in an adult cancer inpatient treatment setting. Journal of the Society for Integrative Oncology, 4, 57–61.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
O'Callaghan, C. & McDermott, F. (2004). Music therapy's relevance in a cancer hospital researched through a constructivist lens. Journal of Music Therapy, 41, 151–185.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
O'Kelly, J. & Koffman, J. (2007). Multidisciplinary perspectives of music therapy in adult palliative care. Palliative Medicine, 21, 235–241.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Papadatou, D., Anagnostopoulos, F. & Monos, D. (1994). Factors contributing to the development of burnout in oncology nursing. British Journal of Medical Psychology, 67, 187–199.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Pierce, B., Dougherty, E., Panzarella, T., et al. (2007). Staff stress, work satisfaction, and death attitudes on an oncology palliative care unit, and on a medical and radiation oncology inpatient unit. Journal of Palliative Care, 23, 32–39.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Rykov, M. (2008). Experiencing music therapy cancer support. Journal of Health Psychology, 13, 190–200.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Rykov, M. & Salmon, D. (2001). Thematic issue and companion CD ROM: Moments musicaux: Music therapy in palliative care. Journal of Palliative Care, 13.Google Scholar
Saunders, J.M. & Valente, S.M. (1994). Nurses' grief. Cancer Nursing, 17, 318–325.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
St. Vincent's Health. (2003). Careers at St Vincent's Health. Retrieved March 24, 2008, from http://www.svhm.org.au/infoabout/careers/careers.htm#access%20councelling.Google Scholar
Standley, J. (1992). Clinical applications of music therapy and chemotherapy: The effect of nausea and emesis. Music Therapy Perspectives, 9, 91–96.Google Scholar
Stewart, K., Silberman, J., Loewy, J., et al. (2005). The role of music therapy in the care for the caregivers of the terminally ill. In Music Therapy in End of Life Care, Dileo, C. & Loewy, J. (eds.), pp. 239–250. Cherry Hill, NJ: Jeffrey Books.Google Scholar
Storer, J. (2008). The new art of health care: How art is being used to help solve problems in modern hospital design. Charleston City Paper. Retrieved March 26, 2008, from http://www.charlestoncitypaper.com/gyrobase/Content?oid=oid%3A42645.Google Scholar
Stratton, V. & Zalanowski, A. (1984). The relationship between music, degree of liking and self-reported relaxation. Journal of Music Therapy, 21, 184–192.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Vachon, M. (2004). The stress of professional caregivers. In Oxford Textbook of Palliative Medicine, Hanks, G., MacDonald, N., Cherny, N., et al. (eds.), pp. 992–1004. Oxford: Oxford University Press.Google Scholar
Waldron, E. (2001). The effects of group music therapy on mood states and cohesiveness in adult oncology patients. Journal of Music Therapy, 38, 212–238.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Wilson, K., Ganley, A., Mackereth, P., et al. (2007). Subsidized complementary therapies for staff and volunteers at a regional cancer center: A formative study. European Journal of Cancer Care, 16, 291–299.CrossRefGoogle Scholar