Music therapy in an integrated pediatric palliative care program

Am J Hosp Palliat Care. 2009;26(6):449-55. doi: 10.1177/1049909109341870. Epub 2009 Aug 7.

Abstract

National experts have recommended that children with life-limiting illnesses receive integrated palliative and medical care. These programs offer a variety of services, including music therapy. Using survey data from parents whose were enrolled in Florida's Partners in Care: Together for Kids (PIC:TFK) program, this study investigates parents' experiences with music therapy. About 44% of children with life-limiting illnesses and 17% of their siblings used music therapy. For children who used music therapy, multivariate results suggest that their parents were 23 times as likely to report satisfaction with the overall PIC:TFK program (P < .05) versus parents whose children did not use music therapy. Pediatric palliative care programs should include music therapy, although recruiting licensed music therapists may be challenging.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Consumer Behavior
  • Female
  • Florida
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Male
  • Multivariate Analysis
  • Music Therapy*
  • Palliative Care / methods*
  • Parents
  • Siblings
  • Workforce