COVID-19 and Music Therapists’ Employment, Service Delivery, Perceived Stress, and Hope: A Descriptive Study

Gaddy, Sarah; Gallardo, Ressa; McCluskey, Shelley; Moore, Leanna; Peuser, Alex; Rotert, Rachel; Stypulkoski, Corinne; LaGasse, A. Blythe

doi:10.1093/mtp/miaa018

Cited by 46 publications

(70 citation statements)

References 14 publications

(24 reference statements)

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“…), organizational changes (such as more individual sessions), and restrictions on sharing instruments or singing when in-person sessions were possible. This is in line with a recent study from the United States showing that music therapists were remarkably resilient to adapt and shift to alternative delivery methods such as telehealth (Gaddy et al, 2020). While many music therapists in the study by Gaddy et al (2020) were grateful to be able to offer virtual services to maintain contact with their patients, therapists also described the negative impact of the disruption of in-person sessions on their mental health and professional identity.…”

Section: Conclusion Takeaway Messages and Concluding Remarkssupporting

confidence: 83%

“…This is in line with a recent study from the United States showing that music therapists were remarkably resilient to adapt and shift to alternative delivery methods such as telehealth (Gaddy et al, 2020). While many music therapists in the study by Gaddy et al (2020) were grateful to be able to offer virtual services to maintain contact with their patients, therapists also described the negative impact of the disruption of in-person sessions on their mental health and professional identity. This relates to a recent paper in which team members in a Belgian ward, offering group therapy for people with personality disorders and dysfunctions, describe how drastic transformations took place in the ward due to preventive COVID-19 measures (Van Duppen et al, 2021).…”

Section: Conclusion Takeaway Messages and Concluding Remarkssupporting

confidence: 83%

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Music Therapy During COVID-19: Changes to the Practice, Use of Technology, and What to Carry Forward in the Future

2021

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In recent years, the field of music therapy (MT) has increasingly embraced the use of technology for conducting therapy sessions and enhancing patient outcomes. Amidst a worldwide pandemic, we sought to examine whether this is now true to an even greater extent, as many music therapists have had to approach and conduct their work differently. The purpose of this survey study is to observe trends in how music therapists from different regions around the world have had to alter their practice, especially in relation to their use of technology during the COVID-19 pandemic, because of limited options to conduct in-person therapy due to social distancing measures. Further, the findings aim to clarify music therapists’ perspectives on the benefits and limitations of technology in MT, as well as online MT. In addition, this survey investigated what changes have been necessary to administer MT during COVID-19, in terms of virtual therapy and online tools, and how the changes made now may affect MT in the future. We also explored music therapists’ views on whether special technology-focused training might be helpful to support the practice of MT in the future. This is the first survey, to our knowledge, to break down opinions of and trends in technology use based on geographical region (North America, Europe, and Asia), and several noteworthy differences were apparent across regions. We hope our findings provide useful information, guidance, and a global reference point for music therapists on effectively continuing the practice of MT during times of crisis, and can encourage reflection and improvement in administering MT.

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Section: Conclusion Takeaway Messages and Concluding Remarkssupporting

confidence: 83%

Section: Conclusion Takeaway Messages and Concluding Remarkssupporting

confidence: 83%

Music Therapy During COVID-19: Changes to the Practice, Use of Technology, and What to Carry Forward in the Future

2021

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“…Where possible, work was shifted into home offices and virtual platforms. According to an online survey, for more than half of US-based music therapist survey respondents (about 54.4%), this mainly meant providing clinical services from home [ 2 ], despite frequently having no prior experience or knowledge of telemedicine. Furthermore, (a theme that lies outside of the scope of this paper) some music therapists were able to keep working without changes in-person, having to deal with a specific set of issues related to preventive measures against the spread of COVID-19, some were given different duties on-site, while some were laid off or their positions were canceled completely.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Furthermore, (a theme that lies outside of the scope of this paper) some music therapists were able to keep working without changes in-person, having to deal with a specific set of issues related to preventive measures against the spread of COVID-19, some were given different duties on-site, while some were laid off or their positions were canceled completely. [ 2 ] Adaptation of music therapy (MT) to remote sessions has proved a multifaceted challenge, and many professional organizations quickly addressed the issue. [ 3 ] To state only a couple of examples, the American Music Therapy Association (AMTA) established a COVID-19 task force early on and has since been providing support and encouragement, as well as practical tips for music therapists [ 4 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Adaptation of Music Therapists’ Practice to the Outset of the COVID-19 Pandemic—Going Virtual: A Scoping Review

Kantorová

Kantor

Hořejší

et al. 2021

IJERPH

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Background: In the midst of a worldwide COVID-19 pandemic, music therapists previously not involved in telehealth had to develop effective remote forms of music therapy. The objective of this review was to systematically explore how music therapists previously working in-person adapted to the transfer to remote forms of therapy in the context of the coronavirus outbreak. Methods: We searched Scopus, Web of Science Core Collection, CINAHL, Medline, ProQuest Central, PubMed, EMBASE, PsycINFO and PsyARTICLES, grey literature (to October 2020), and websites of professional organizations. We followed the JBI methodology for scoping reviews. Results: Out of the 194 screened texts, we included ten very heterogeneous articles with an overall very low quality. Most texts described remote therapy in the form of synchronous video calls using the Internet, one paper described a concert in a patio of a residential home. We report the authors’ experience with the adaptation and activities, challenges and benefits of remote forms of therapy, recommendations of organizations, and examples and tips for online therapies. Conclusions: Music therapists have adapted the musical instruments, the hours, the technology used, the therapeutic goals, the way they prepared their clients for sessions, and other aspects. They needed to be more flexible, consult with colleagues more often, and mind the client-therapist relationship’s boundaries. It seems, when taken as a necessary short-term measure, online music therapy works sufficiently well. The majority of papers stated that benefits outweighed the challenges, although many benefits were directly linked with the pandemic context.

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“…To our knowledge, only one study has been published on telehealth music therapy since the onset of the pandemic. Gaddy et al (2020) found that music therapists in the United States of America experienced job stresses, including fewer client hours and an increase in the use of telehealth modality. They reported that music therapists experienced a moderate level of stress, but higher hope than the general (United States) population, according to the Adult Hope Scale and the Perceived Stress Scale-10.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Neurologic Music Therapy via Telehealth: A Survey of Clinician Experiences, Trends, and Recommendations During the COVID-19 Pandemic

et al. 2021

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This cross-sectional survey investigated the transition of Neurologic Music Therapy (NMT) services from in-person (pre-COVID-19) to telehealth (since COVID-19) to (1) determine whether the use of an NMT paradigm contributes to the successful transition of therapy services to telehealth, (2) identify which NMT domains and techniques are transferable from in-person to telehealth, (3) identify whether there are differences in the transition of NMT services across different employment settings, and (4) evaluate the potential benefits and challenges of telehealth NMT. An online survey comprised of 49 closed and open-ended questions was distributed by the Academy of Neurologic Music Therapy to 2,778 NMT affiliates worldwide. The survey sought information on demographics, telehealth perceptions, technology, assessment, clinical practice, safety, and caregiver involvement. Quantitative and qualitative analyses were applied. Eighty-one participants answered the survey and the 69 who completed the survey in its entirety were included in the analysis. Results indicated that the frequency of NMT technique usage had no impact on the overall number of clinical hours retained over telehealth. Correlation analysis revealed an association between more frequent NMT usage and perceived likelihood of using telehealth in the future (i.e., once COVID-19 is no longer a major threat), as well as with fewer group sessions lost over telehealth. All NMT domains transferred to telehealth, although within the sensorimotor domain, fewer therapists implemented rhythmic auditory stimulation for telehealth sessions compared to in-person. Overall, NMTs had fewer hours for telehealth compared to in-person regardless of employment setting. Technological challenges were notable drawbacks, while major benefits included the ability to continue providing NMT when in-person sessions were not possible, increased accessibility for remote clients, and positive outcomes related to increased caregiver involvement. Based on the results, our recommendations for implementing telehealth in Neurologic Music Therapy include integrating telehealth into routine care, mitigating safety concerns, identifying those who could benefit most from remote delivery, involving caregivers, and developing/sharing resources for telehealth NMT.

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COVID-19 and Music Therapists’ Employment, Service Delivery, Perceived Stress, and Hope: A Descriptive Study

Cited by 46 publications

References 14 publications

Music Therapy During COVID-19: Changes to the Practice, Use of Technology, and What to Carry Forward in the Future

Music Therapy During COVID-19: Changes to the Practice, Use of Technology, and What to Carry Forward in the Future

Adaptation of Music Therapists’ Practice to the Outset of the COVID-19 Pandemic—Going Virtual: A Scoping Review

Neurologic Music Therapy via Telehealth: A Survey of Clinician Experiences, Trends, and Recommendations During the COVID-19 Pandemic

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