Vocal Music Therapy for Chronic Pain Management in Inner-City African Americans: A Mixed Methods Feasibility Study

Abstract

Background To date, research on music for pain management has focused primarily on listening to pre-recorded music for acute pain. Research is needed on the impact of active music therapy interventions on chronic pain management. Objective The aim of this mixed methods research study was to determine feasibility and estimates of effect of vocal music therapy for chronic pain management. Methods Fifty-five inner city adults, predominantly African-Americans, with chronic pain were randomized to an 8-week vocal music therapy treatment group or waitlist control group. Consent and attrition rates, treatment compliance, and instrument appropriateness/burden were tracked. Physical functioning (pain interference and general activities), self-efficacy, emotional functioning, pain intensity, pain coping, and participant perception of change were measured at baseline, 4, 8, and 12 weeks. Focus groups were conducted at the 12-week follow-up. Results The consent rate was 77%. The attrition rate was 27% at follow-up. We established acceptability of the intervention. Large effect sizes were obtained for self-efficacy at weeks 8 and 12; a moderate effect size was found for pain interference at week 8; no improvements were found for general activities and emotional functioning. Moderate effect sizes were obtained for pain intensity and small effect sizes for coping, albeit not statistically significant. Qualitative findings suggested that the treatment resulted in enhanced self-management, motivation, empowerment, a sense of belonging, and reduced isolation. Conclusions This study suggests that vocal music therapy may be effective in building essential stepping stones for effective chronic pain management namely enhanced self-efficacy, motivation, empowerment, and social engagement.

A systematic review on the effects of group singing on persistent pain in people with long‐term health conditions

“…The effects of singing on pain interference were examined in seven quantitative studies with 205 participants (Bradt, ; Fogg‐Rogers et al, ; Grape et al, ; Kenny & Faunce, ; Morrison et al, ; Pongan et al, ; Stegemoller, ). These studies utilized pain questionnaires, which asked the degrees of pain interference in a numerical scale: for example, “Mark the box beside the number that describes how, during the past 24 hr, pain has interfered with your general activity, normal work, etc.," (BPI).…”

“…These studies utilized pain questionnaires, which asked the degrees of pain interference in a numerical scale: for example, “Mark the box beside the number that describes how, during the past 24 hr, pain has interfered with your general activity, normal work, etc.," (BPI). Pain interference decreased from pre‐ to post‐singing intervention in studies with chronic pain patients (Bradt, ), people with Parkinson's (Stegemoeller, ), people with COPD (Morrison et al, ) and people with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) (Grape et al, ); however, the decrease was only significant in Bradt et al () . Four RCTs yield mixed results: Bradt et al () and Grape et al () studies, rated as of less than good quality, reported findings that “significantly favours intervention,” whereas Pongan et al () findings “significantly favours control” and Kenny's () had a “trend towards control.” Pongan's study () was appraised to be of good quality, whereas Kenny's study () had a number of weaknesses, such as a high attrition rate (only 31% of singing group participants completed the 3‐week long singing programme) and not reporting missing data.…”

“…Four RCTs yield mixed results: Bradt et al () and Grape et al () studies, rated as of less than good quality, reported findings that “significantly favours intervention,” whereas Pongan et al () findings “significantly favours control” and Kenny's () had a “trend towards control.” Pongan's study () was appraised to be of good quality, whereas Kenny's study () had a number of weaknesses, such as a high attrition rate (only 31% of singing group participants completed the 3‐week long singing programme) and not reporting missing data. Both Grape () and Bradt () RCTs had passive comparator groups (education group and wait‐list, respectively), and had medium intervention effects. In contrast, singing did not result in decreased pain interference compared to painting (Pongan, ) or exercise and listening to singing (Kenny, ); indeed, painting resulted in larger decreases in interference than singing (Tables and ).…”

“…Four RCTs (Bradt, ; Kenny & Faunce, ; Pongan, ; Tamplin et al, ) and two non‐RCTs (Morrison et al, ; Reagon et al, ) with a total of 229 participants evaluated the effects of singing on depression. Inspection of four RCTs revealed mixed results: Pongon study () indicated “significantly favours control,” whereas Kenny and Faunce () and Tamplin et al () showed “no difference.” Only one RCT (Bradt et al, ), rated as of less than good quality, revealed a “trend towards intervention” (Table and ).…”

The therapeutic effect of relative satisfaction on pain treatment: focus on gobchuchum (a hunchback dance) of Ok-jin Gong

“…A hallmark of human movement is volitional control the freedom to shift easily, automatically, and securely within the changing requirements of daily living (Batson et al, 2016). Vocal music therapy may be effectual in building necessary stepping-stones for effectual chronic pain management, in other words strengthened self-efficacy, motivation, empowerment, and social engagement (Bradt et al, 2016). Music decreases the anxiety and pain scores of patients during SWL and is associated with higher satisfaction scores for remedies (Akbas et al, 2016).…”