The Effectiveness of Music in Pediatric Healthcare: A Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials

Abstract

The aim of this study was to systematically review the effectiveness of music on pediatric health-related outcomes. Five electronic databases were searched for randomized controlled/crossover trial designs published between 1984 and 2009. Eligible studies used music as a therapy or intervention, included participants 1 to 18 years, and focused on at least one health-related outcome (with the exclusion of procedural pain). Seventeen studies met the inclusion criteria. Quantitative synthesis was hampered by an inability to aggregate data arising from heterogeneity of interventions, outcomes and measurement tools. Qualitative synthesis revealed significant improvements in one or more health outcomes within four of seven trials involving children with learning and developmental disorders; two of three trials involving children experiencing stressful life events; and four of five trials involving children with acute and/or chronic physical illness. No significant effects were found for two trials involving children with mood disorders and related psychopathology. These findings offer limited qualitative evidence to support the effectiveness of music on health-related outcomes for children and adolescents with clinical diagnoses. Recommendations for establishing a consensus on research priorities and addressing methodological limitations are put forth to support the continued advancement of this popular intervention.

Determining the effects of therapeutic clowning on nurses in a children's rehabilitation hospital

“…Increasingly, healthcare administrators and designers have tried to exploit this relation; the arts figure in the aesthetic design of healthcare spaces and in the delivery of many interventions (Dose, 2006;Macnaughton, White & Stacy, 2005;SAH, 2009). There is a growing body of evidence supporting the use of art, arts-based interventions and art therapy to improve a range of health-related outcomes (Daykin, Byrne, Soteriou & O'Connor, 2008;Gold, Solli, Kruger & Lie, 2009;Gold, Voracek & Wigram, 2004;Goyal & Keightley, 2008;Joronen, Rankin & Astedt-Kurki, 2008;Maratos, Gold, Wang & Crawford, 2008;Stuckey & Nobel, 2010;Treurnicht Naylor, Kingsnorth, Lamont, McKeever & Macarthur, 2010;Wood, Molassiotis & Payne, 2010).…”

Effects of mind–body therapies in children

“…Furthermore, music may have a small effect on heart rate, respiratory rate and blood pressure 23,24 . The pleasurable, flexible, non‐invasive and dynamic nature of music makes MT particularly interesting for (young) children and adolescents and, indeed, it has revealed itself as a promising approach with a variety of potential applications as discussed below 25 …”

“…The authors suggest that music may be more effective when part of a multifaceted intervention aimed at distracting the patient from the painful or anxiety‐provoking stimuli. Recently, a systematic review of 17 RCTs was published, looking at the effect of MT on a variety of paediatric health‐related outcomes 25 . Studies were performed in children with learning disabilities, developmental delay, autistic disorders, ADHD, affective disorders, chronic illnesses and in children experiencing stressful life events.…”

Musical Interests and Abilities in Individuals with Developmental Disabilities

“…Finally, as reviewed previously in the section on music therapy in ASD, there is much potential for the therapeutic use of music, though studies to date have lacked the methodological rigor needed to determine true clinical significance (e.g., Naylor, Kingsnorth, Lamont, McKeever, & Macarthur, 2011). However, the self-reported therapeutic use of music in high functioning individuals with ASDs (Allen et al, 2009), and associations between music use and externalizing symptoms, and musical production, emotional response to music, and internalizing symptoms in WS , all demonstrate the need for better controlled studies to assess how music can be harnessed for therapeutic use in these populations.…”