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

Abstract

Background: Recent research found evidence supporting music therapy for hospitalized children with chronic diseases. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of music therapy on hospitalized children’s vital signs. Methods: In this prospective study, children with chronic gastroenterological and nephrological diseases received active or receptive music therapy two to four times a week until discharge from hospital at the pediatric special care unit (SCU) and pediatric intensive care unit (ICU). Baseline and post-therapy heart rate, oxygen saturation and blood pressure were recorded and analyzed as control values at three points on the same day when the children were alone in their patient room at rest. Results: A total of 83 children, median 3 age of years (range one month to eighteen years) received music therapy. In total, 377 music therapy sessions were treated: 200 receptive therapy (78 ICU, 122 SCU) and 177 with active therapy (0 ICU, 177 SCU). Music therapy interventions showed changes in vital signs during music therapy sessions. After music therapy, heart rates decreased by 18 beats per minute (95% confidence interval (CI), −19.4 to (−16.8)), oxygen saturation increased by 2.3% (95% CI, 2.2 to 2.5), systolic blood pressure decreased by 9.2 (95% CI, −10.6 to −7.7) and diastolic blood pressure decreased by 7.9 (95% CI, −9.6 to −6.3). When music therapy was applied at the SCU (ICU), heart rates significantly reduced by 17.9 (18.9) beats per min, oxygen saturation increased by 2.4% (2.1%) and blood pressure reduced by 9.2 (2.8) mmHg (systolic) and 7.9 (0.3) mmHg (diastolic). Almost all control values were better than directly before the intervention. However, after music therapy intervention, the children showed better values in vital signs compared to being alone in their patient room. Conclusion: Music therapy is an added value for children with kidney and liver/gastrointestinal diseases during their hospital stay.

Parents’ Perceptions of the Effectiveness of Music Therapy on Their Chronically Ill Children

“…The results of the current survey were collected as part of a prospective clinical study on music therapy in hospitalized children with chronic gastroenterological and nephrological diseases [28]. The results were collected anonymously as a blinded study.…”

“…This kind of non-drug intervention is effective in reducing pain and anxiety [23][24][25][26]. Live music therapy has a stabilizing effect on the vital signs of heart rate, oxygen saturation [27], and respiratory rate and blood pressure [28]. It is effective regardless of the wellbeing of the patient and usable at intensive care units (ICUs).…”

Musiktherapie mit Kindern und Jugendlichen im klinischen Kontext

“…Sowohl aktive als auch rezeptive Musiktherapie führen zu einer gleichwertigen Verbesserung der Herzfrequenz und Sauerstoffsättigung, unabhängig von der Schwere der Grunderkrankung. Mit zunehmender Schwere der Erkran-kung wird der Einfluss der Musiktherapie auf den Blutdruck geringer [13].…”

“…Studien mit hospitalisierten Frühgeborenen, Kindern und Jugendlichen bis zur Vollendung des 18. Lebensjahres zeigen, dass die Musiktherapie zum Stressabbau 9 beiträgt und stabilisierend auf die Vitalparameter Herz- und Atemfrequenz sowie Sauerstoffsättigung 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 und den Blutdruck 13 wirkt ( Abb. 1 ).…”

Music-based interventions in rehabilitation of children and adolescents with chronic diseases: Sharing an experience from a Brazilian public hospital

“…Music therapy has been observed as an effective adjuvant treatment for patients, both children and adults, with chronic diseases as well as for those with various types of disabilities (1). It has been widely recognized that music simultaneously stimulates many areas of the brain promoting brain plasticity in brain-injured patients and in children with genetic disorders that cause intellectual and physical disabilities (2,3).…”