Music Use in Adult Patients with Sickle Cell Disease: A Pilot Survey Study

Abstract

Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a group of genetic disorders primarily affecting individuals of African descent. Adults with SCD experience both acute and chronic pain. Data on music preferences, resources, and music-based pain strategies of adults with SCD are needed to tailor future music therapy interventions to the unique needs of adults with SCD. The purpose of this study was to (1) gather descriptive data related to music use in adults with SCD and (2) explore associations between participants’ music use, pain interference, and perceived helpfulness of music for reducing pain. In total, 100 adults with SCD participated in this survey during outpatient clinic visits. Results indicate a population that: (1) faces significant challenges related to pain interference (M = 61.13, SE = 0.76); (2) perceives music as being helpful for managing challenges, including mood (57%), sleep (48%), stress (47%), and pain (37%); (3) purposefully engages in music listening to manage pain (74%); and (4) would be interested in participating in music therapy services in inpatient (88%) and outpatient (81%) settings. Participants selected songs in genres, such as Hip-Hop/Rap and R&B/Soul, that contrast with previously reported characteristics of music for pain management. There was a moderate positive correlation (rs = 0.516, p < .001) between the number of strategies used alongside music and the perceived helpfulness of music for reducing pain. Findings inform the clinical use of music therapy and support future music therapy research with this population to address quality of life.

Effectiveness of Medical Music Therapy Practice: Integrative Research Using the Electronic Health Record: Rationale, Design, and Population Characteristics

“…Black/African American representation among our patient population is significant given the historical lack of such representation within the MT literature, 20 , 21 findings from a recent study in which Black patients with cancer receiving MT reported higher pre-session pain intensity than White patients, 22 and the high priority given to addressing structural racism within the 2019 Cuyahoga County CHNA. 23…”

Effectiveness of music therapy within community hospitals: an EMMPIRE retrospective study

“…This quantitative analysis supports the generalizability of MT for pain relief in community hospitals regardless of patients' demographic and clinical characteristics. Given the prevalence of Black/African American patients within our study, the historical lack of Black representation within the MT 28,46 and integrative medicine literature, 11,12,[24][25][26] and racial disparities in pain management in the United States, 13,57 future research should incorporate efforts to understand Black patients' experience of MT for managing acute pain.…”