Music therapy for palliative care patients
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Evaluation of the Effectiveness of Music Therapy in Improving the Quality of Life of Palliative Care Patients: a randomised controlled pilot study.
IRAS ID
194979
Contact name
Joanne Reid
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Research & Enterprise Directorate
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 5 months, 30 days
Research summary
Rationale\nThe policy context:\nThis research will contribute to the NICE Quality Standard for End of Life Care for adults which includes improving the effectiveness, safety and experience of care for adults approaching the end of life and the experience of their families and carers. \n\nThe research rationale: To date, primarily because of a paucity of robust research, the evidence for music therapy’s effectiveness for improving the quality-of-life for palliative care patients is positive but weak. More research is needed to strengthen the evidence base. \n\nAim:\nTo establish the feasibility of and pilot a randomised controlled trial to evaluate the effectiveness of music therapy in improving the quality of life of palliative care patients.\n\nResearch question:\nThe primary research is: ‘Does music therapy in addition to standard care lead to an improvement in quality-of-life compared to usual care only?’. \n\nMethod:\nIn order to answer this question, we intend to carry out a randomised controlled pilot study that will compare two parallel groups of palliative care patients, one which receives usual care only and one which receives usual care and music therapy. The trial will be single-blind, meaning that while the participant will know whether or not they have received music therapy, the researcher gathering data about them will not. We also intend to assess inter-familial communication, along with assessing the effect of contextual factors upon the implementation and sustainability of music therapy in a palliative care setting\n\nParticipants:\nParticipants will include palliative care patients, family/carers and practitioners.\nPatients:\nAll palliative care patients who have been referred to the Marie Curie Belfast Hospice inpatient and outpatient day-therapy services, who are eligible to be included in the trial, will be invited to participate.\nFamily/Carers:\nFamily members/carers of those allocated to music therapy will be invited to participate. \nPractitioners:\nMarie Curie Hospice employees with a direct patient care role will be invited to participate.
REC name
HSC REC B
REC reference
16/NI/0058
Date of REC Opinion
3 May 2016
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion