Child and Parent Experiences of Music Therapy in a Children's Hospice
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Understanding Child and Parent Experience of receiving Music Therapy in a Children’s Hospice setting: a qualitative study of child and parent experiences and perspectives
IRAS ID
327361
Contact name
Julia Hackett
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of York
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 0 months, 1 days
Research summary
Children’s hospices in the UK support children with conditions that will shorten their life (life-limiting conditions) and their families by providing physical, emotional, social and spiritual support. These are funded mostly by charitable funding. Additional state funding for children’s hospices is inconsistent across the country. Each children’s hospice is different, but they all focus on supporting quality of life for children and families.
Music Therapy aims to helps people whose lives have been affected by injury, illness or disability by supporting their psychological, emotional, cognitive, physical and social needs. Many children’s hospices in the UK employ a music therapist as it is believed to support the reduction of anxiety and pain, increase emotional expression and improve family interactions, as well as many other benefits. However, there is little evidence about the experiences of music therapy in children’s hospices from child and family perspectives.
This study aims to explore this by speaking to children and parents about their experiences of music therapy received in children’s hospices to help understand what is important for future service design and development. We hope to include around 20 parents or legal guardians of children and young people supported by a children’s hospice and around 10 children and young people with life limiting conditions who have received music therapy in this setting. The researcher will work closely with a parent advisory group who will provide input throughout the study. This study will provide important evidence to inform future policy and service developments in music therapy within children’s hospices in the UK.
REC name
Wales REC 4
REC reference
24/WA/0063
Date of REC Opinion
15 May 2024
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion