Clinical Issues: Music Therapy in an Adult Cancer Inpatient Treatment Setting

Journal

Journal of the Society for Integrative Oncology

Year

2006

Abstract

The adult oncology inpatient music therapy program at Peter MacCallum Cancer Center, which is Australia's only hospital solely dedicated to cancer treatment, research and care, is described. Patients' treatment requirements and often changing conditions compel music therapist to be flexible in their approach, offering both pre-planned treatment sessions and spontaneous sessions in open ward contexts. Patients and families who wish to engage im music therapy choose from various music therapy methods, including live song choice, music imagery and relaxation, therapeutic music lessons, and improvisation. Complex variables inevitable in such human relationship therapies necessitate that, alongside randomized controlled trials, research methods are grounded in the social sciences to meaningfully substantiate, and further advance, oncologic music therapy.

Music and Health Institute Terms

Cancer; Hospital Setting; Improvisation; Music and Imagery; Music and Relaxation; Music Therapy; Receptive Music Methods

Indexed Terms

Adaptation, Psychological: Adult: Australia: Cancer Care Facilities: Child: Child, Hospitalized

Study Type

Editorial, Opinions, Position Papers

Document Type

Article

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