Music therapy as procedural and treatment support in paediatric healthcare: a review of the literature from a Nordic perspective

Abstract

Abstract -- Music therapy (MT) is here understood as a relational therapy with the potential to alleviate pain and anxiety in hospitalised children and support them in coping with medical procedures and treatment. Research indicates that children who receive MT as procedural support before, during and after painful or frightening medical procedures are better equipped for coping with future procedures and less likely to develop symptoms of paediatric medical traumatic stress. MT can improve the ability of a child to cooperate, thereby reducing the duration of the procedure. This article explores some of the methodological and epistemological issues in MT as procedural support research, and mixed methods research is suggested as a suitable approach for acquiring new knowledge. Few studies on MT as procedural and treatment support have so far been conducted in paediatric settings in Denmark, Sweden and Norway, and there is a need for more randomised controlled trials (RCTs). The Nordic countries have strong MT traditions, but only a small number of music therapists are currently working with procedural support for children. More studies can lead to inclusion of recommendations of MT as procedural and treatment support in national guidelines for evidence-based clinical practice in these countries as well as serve to further develop the theoretical framework. The available Nordic literature will be reviewed, and important aspects of research, clinical practice and theory development will be discussed from a Nordic perspective while drawing upon the rich international evidence base for MT as procedural and treatment support. Keywords: music therapy, procedural support, paediatric care, child traumatic stress