Play the Drums to beat the Doldrums
Abstract for presentation made to the Asia Pacific Hospice Palliative Care Conference 2023 at Incheon, Republic of Korea.
By Lavanya Krishnakumar and Aneka Paul Trustee, Golden Butterflies Children’s Palliative Care Foundation, 26, Unnamalai Ammal Street,
North Usman Road, T. Nagar, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India 600017 Tel.: +91 9940490193, E-mail: lavs2006@gmail.com
Introduction
Music Therapy is an interpersonal process in which the therapist uses music to soothe, heal, and rejuvenate the body, mind, and spirit of the afflicted person. A literature review of studies of the therapeutic use of music to treat pain in adult and child patients in India published since 2010 revealed that all the musical interventions under review had one common factor – passive consumption of music, which did not include a survey of the musical tastes and preferences of the patient. Other than merely listening, there was no other form of active participation. However, there was evidence that music was a contributing factor in the mitigation of pain.
Golden Butterflies Children’s Palliative Care Foundation (GB) had already been using distraction therapy provided by making art, crafting, storytelling, and medi-clowning as non-pharmacological and non-invasive methods for treatment of pain among its child-patients, which was well-received. The aim of the current study was to design a Musical Therapy session to add music and rhythm to the repertoire of Art and Recreational Therapy offered by GB to children receiving treatment/ in palliative care, in Government hospitals of Chennai, South India.
Methods
GB facilitates art and recreation interventions in Government hospitals for child-patients in the Oncology ward. A Rhythm Session was designed along the guidelines of Palliative Care – respecting agency of the child-patient, avoidance of unnecessary pain, and bringing joy and comfort to the family as a unit. An introductory session was conducted outside the Outpatient Ward (OP), inviting participation from all present, using simple and inexpensive musical instruments. The exercises employed were mirroring, call-and-response, passing the sound, playing with the volume, and the universally-enjoyed rumble. Child-patients were offered a choice in the instrument they wanted to play and could even swap instruments in between.
Results
The session witnessed enthusiastic and active participation of child-patients and their caregivers, in a safe and enjoyable activity that was easily facilitated in a busy hospital (OP) environment, using low-cost, readily available material. Responses of child-patients were recorded using universally understood physical gestures of affirmation “a high five”, a Ballot Box with emoticons in place of written feedback forms, ringing a GB Bell, and video interviews.
Conclusion
Music Therapy is a highly recommended intervention as a low-cost, non-invasive, and highly effective method to not only distract the patient from pain but also for enriching engagement with child-patients. Making inexpensive musical instruments available in procedure rooms alongside training nurses in methods of distraction therapy including music, will enable a more pain-free experience for child-patients.
Keywords
Music Therapy, pain mitigation, child patients