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A critical realist evaluation of a music therapy intervention in palliative care.

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND:Music therapy is increasingly used as an adjunct therapy to support symptom management in palliative care. However, studies to date have paid little attention to the processes that lead to changes in patient outcomes. To fill this gap, we examined the processes and experiences involved in the introduction of music therapy as an adjunct complementary therapy to palliative care in a hospice setting in the United Kingdom (UK). METHODS:Using a realistic evaluation approach, we conducted a qualitative study using a variety of approaches. These consisted of open text answers from patients (n?=?16) on how music therapy helped meet their needs within one hospice in Northern Ireland, UK. We also conducted three focus groups with a range of palliative care practitioners (seven physicians, seven nursing staff, two social workers and three allied health professionals) to help understand their perspectives on music therapy's impact on their work setting, and what influences its successful implementation. This was supplemented with an interview with the music therapist delivering the intervention. RESULTS:Music therapy contains multiple mechanisms that can provide physical, psychological, emotional, expressive, existential and social support. There is also evidence that the hospice context, animated by a holistic approach to healthcare, is an important facilitator of the effects of music therapy. Examination of patients' responses helped identify specific benefits for different types of patients. CONCLUSIONS:There is a synergy between the therapeutic aims of music therapy and those of palliative care, which appealed to a significant proportion of participants, who perceived it as effective.

SUBMITTER: Porter S

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5723094 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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A critical realist evaluation of a music therapy intervention in palliative care.

Porter Sam S McConnell Tracey T Clarke Mike M Kirkwood Jenny J Hughes Naomi N Graham-Wisener Lisa L Regan Joan J McKeown Miriam M McGrillen Kerry K Reid Joanne J

BMC palliative care 20171208 1

<h4>Background</h4>Music therapy is increasingly used as an adjunct therapy to support symptom management in palliative care. However, studies to date have paid little attention to the processes that lead to changes in patient outcomes. To fill this gap, we examined the processes and experiences involved in the introduction of music therapy as an adjunct complementary therapy to palliative care in a hospice setting in the United Kingdom (UK).<h4>Methods</h4>Using a realistic evaluation approach, ...[more]

PMID: 29221475

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Project description:BackgroundHealthy Homes and Neighbourhoods (HHAN) Integrated Care Initiative was established to improve the care of families with complex health and social needs who reside in Sydney Local Health District. HHAN seeks to provide long-term multi-disciplinary care coordination as well as enhance capacity building and promote integrated care. The critical realist study reported here is part of the longitudinal development and evaluation of complex integrated health and social care interventions in Sydney, Australia.MethodsWe describe the qualitative component of a critical realist pilot case study aimed at exploring, explaining and refining emerging HHAN programme theories in relation to care coordination. Qualitative interviews were undertaken with HHAN clients (n = 12), staff and other stakeholders (n = 21). Interviews and coding used a context (C), mechanism (M) and outcome (O) framework. Inductive, deductive, retroductive and abductive modes of reasoning were used with the CMO heuristic tool to inform the developing programme theory.ResultsThe mechanisms underpinning effective engagement of clients by care coordinators included: building trust, leveraging other family, social and organisational relationships, meeting clients on their own terms, demonstrating staff effectiveness as quickly as possible, and client empowerment. Mechanisms for enhancing care integration included knowledge transfer activities and shared learning among collaborators, structural and cultural changes, enhancing mutual respect, co-location of multidisciplinary and/or interagency staff and cultivating faith in positive change among staff.ConclusionsUse of a critical realism case study approach served to elucidate the varied influences of contexts and mechanisms on programme outcomes, to highlight what works for whom and in what context. Findings supported the initial programme theory that engagement and trust building with clients, alongside enhanced collaboration and integration of services, improved outcomes for vulnerable families with complex needs. Further research is needed to explore the cost-effectiveness of integrated care initiatives, in view of the long term nature of service provision and the risk of staff burnout.

Project description:BACKGROUND:Music therapy is frequently used as a palliative therapy. In consonance with the goals of palliative care, the primary aim of music therapy is to improve people's quality of life by addressing their psychological needs and facilitating communication. To date, primarily because of a paucity of robust research, the evidence for music therapy's effectiveness on patient reported outcomes is positive but weak. This pilot and feasibility study will test procedures, outcomes and validated tools; estimate recruitment and attrition rates; and calculate the sample size required for a phase III randomised trial to evaluate the effectiveness of music therapy in improving the quality of life of palliative care patients. METHODS:A pilot randomised controlled trial supplemented with qualitative methods. The quantitative data collection will involve recruitment of >52 patients from an inpatient Marie Curie hospice setting over a 12-month period. Eligibility criteria include all patients with an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status of 03- indicating they are medically fit to engage with music therapy and an Abbreviated Mental Test (AMT) score of ?7 indicating they are capable of providing meaningful informed consent and accurate responses to outcome measures. Baseline data collection will include the McGill Quality of Life Questionnaire (MQOL); medical and socio-demographic data will be undertaken before randomisation to an intervention or control group. Participants in the intervention arm will be offered two 30-45 min sessions of music therapy per week for three consecutive weeks, in addition to care as usual. Participants in the control arm will receive care as usual. Follow-up measures will be administered in 1, 3 and 5 weeks. Qualitative data collection will involve focus group and individual interviews with HCPs and carers. DISCUSSION:This study will ensure a firm methodological grounding for the development of a robust phase III randomised trial of music therapy for improving quality of life in palliative care patients. By undertaking the pilot and feasibility trial under normal clinical conditions in a hospice setting, the trial will result in reliable procedures to overcome some of the difficulties in designing music therapy RCTs for palliative care settings. TRIAL REGISTRATION:Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT02791048.

Project description:IntroductionHeart failure affects over 26 million people worldwide with prevalence expected to grow due to an ageing global population. Palliative care can address the holistic needs of patients with heart failure, and integrated palliative care in heart failure management has been indicated to improve outcomes for patients. Despite known benefits for integrated palliative care in heart failure management, implementation is poor across the majority of global health services. Recent systematic reviews have identified the benefits of integrating palliative care into heart failure management and highlighted barriers to implementation. However, there was heterogeneity in terms of countries, healthcare settings, delivery by differing staff across multidisciplinary teams, modes of delivery and different intervention components.Methods and analysisThe aim of this study is to identify how integrated palliative care and heart failure interventions produce desired outcomes, in which contexts, and for which patients. We will undertake a realist synthesis to identify this, using Pawson's five iterative steps. We will recruit an international stakeholder group comprised of healthcare providers and patients with heart failure to advise and provide feedback throughout the review. Our initial realist programme theory sets out the necessary steps needed to accomplish the final intended outcome(s) from the implementation of integrated palliative care and heart failure. This initial programme theory will be shaped through an iterative process of testing and refinement.Ethics and disseminationEthical approval is not required for this study. With our stakeholder group, we will coproduce a user guide that outlines practical advice to optimise, tailor and implement interventions designed to integrate palliative care and heart failure, taking into consideration local context, alongside user-friendly summaries of the synthesis findings using short animations to convey complex findings. We will draw on the expertise within the stakeholder group to identify key stakeholders for disseminating to relevant audiences, ensuring outputs are tailored for their respective needs.Prospero registration numberCRD42021240185.

Dataset Information

A critical realist evaluation of a music therapy intervention in palliative care.

Publications

A critical realist evaluation of a music therapy intervention in palliative care.

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