A Survey of Music Therapists Working in Pediatric Medical Settings in the United States

Abstract

Music therapy is becoming a standard supportive care service in many pediatric hospitals across the United States. However, more detailed information is needed to advance our understanding about current clinical practice and increase availability of pediatric music therapy services. The purpose of this cross-sectional survey study was to collect and summarize data about music therapists working in pediatric medical settings. Specifically, we collected information about (1) therapist demographics, (2) organizational structure, (3) service delivery and clinical practice, and (4) administrative/supervisory responsibilities. Board-certified music therapists working in pediatric medical settings (n = 118) completed a 37-item online questionnaire. We analyzed survey data using descriptive statistics and content analysis. Findings indicated that there is a ratio of approximately one music therapist for every 100 patient beds, that one-third of respondents are the only music therapist in their setting, and that half of the surveyed positions are philanthropically funded. Prioritizing patient referrals based on acuity was common (95.7%, n = 110), with palliative care and pain as the most highly prioritized needs. More than half of respondents reported serving in high acuity areas such as the pediatric intensive care, hematology/oncology, or neonatal intensive care units. We recommend replication of this survey in five years to examine growth and change in service delivery among pediatric music therapists over time, with additional studies to (a) explore how therapist-to-patient ratios influence quality of care, (b) identify factors that contribute to sustainability of programs, and (c) determine how expansion of services support a broader population of patients and families.

Effects of Music Therapy on Vital Signs in Children with Chronic Disease

“…Music therapy is becoming a standard supportive care service in many pediatric hospitals across the United States. More than half of the respondents in a study reported serving in high acuity areas such as the pediatric intensive care, hematology/oncology, or neonatal intensive care units [ 5 ]. Music therapy has become a consolidated strategy to relieve stress in children during hospitalization, and previous research demonstrated its efficacy on individuals’ health [ 6 ].…”

Music Therapy for Children with Oncology & Hematological Conditions and Their Families: Advancing the Standards of Psychosocial Care

“…Referral and assessment are central to the practice of board-certified music therapists (CBMT, 2021). A majority of programs use a referral-based system (Knott et al, 2020). However, high patient to therapist ratios necessitate referral prioritization based on acuity and/or need.…”

“…Music therapy is uniquely suited to provide holistic care for patients and families dealing with a life-threatening illness. Referrals for palliative, bereavement, and end-of-life care are prioritized in pediatric music therapy programs (Knott et al, 2020). Music therapists provide creative opportunities to address the physical (symptom management), psychological (coping, self-expression), social (bonding, connectedness), and spiritual (meaning-making, legacy) needs of patients, families, peers, and staff.…”

“…PSS4: Psychosocial Interventions and Therapeutic Support as a Standard of Care. As clinicians, music therapists spend the majority of their time providing direct patient care in both inpatient and outpatient settings (CBMT, 2020; Knott et al, 2020). Based on clinical practice survey data, the top three needs addressed include coping, pain management, and palliative care/bereavement (Knott et al, 2020).…”

Musicoterapia Hospitalaria: Impacto del rock and roll en la unidad pediátrica de trasplantes del Hospital Universitario La Paz

“…Tras realizar una revisión a más de 20 estudios recientes sobre musicoterapia pediátrica hemos comprobado cómo en todos ellos hay un denominador común acerca de los elementos constitutivos de la música. En ellos apenas se presenta un análisis formal de los elementos musicales específicos empleados de la intervención de musicoterapia en sus formas tonales, armónicas, rítmicas, tímbricas o melódicas, quedando centrado el interés de las publicaciones en los resultados y no tanto en la particularidad del elemento con el que hayan sido o no alcanzados (Hatem, Lira y Mattos, 2006;Knott et al, 2020y Haase et al, 2020.…”