Music and health promotion in Danish/ Nordic hospitals – who and how? An essay.

Abstract

Abstract -- The purpose of this article is to provide an overview of health promotion through music activities and interventions in Danish/Nordic hospitals over the last twenty years, with particular emphasis on paediatrics. The article also discusses theoretical rationales and practical challenges related to these relatively new initiatives. The methodology is a mixture of heuristics and literature review. The author has been an active agent in this field – as a clinician, researcher, supervisor and teacher – and has taken part in the development of the theoretical concept of “health musicking”, which serves as a framework for many of the professionals (‘agents’) in the field. Findings include a presentation of the present evidence base for music interventions in Nordic hospitals and a systematic overview of agents in the field. There is a growing body of evidence from different types of research studies in the Nordic countries. However, the evidence base tailored to this specific field is still limited. Two different approaches or roads to the implementation of music therapy/music medicine in hospitals are identified and discussed, and practical implications are highlighted in a number of recommendations for professionals in the field. Keywords: health musicking, music therapy, music medicine, hospital, evidence