LIVE MUSIC AT THE ONCOLOGY BEDSIDE

ABSTRACT

Psychosocial Dimensions of Care Cancer diagnosis and treatment is one of the most complex and traumatizing life events. Cancer impedes physical, social, and emotional well-being and often generates a range of emotions including anxiety, depression, fear, sadness, anger, guilt and even shame. Studies have shown that during and after treatment patients suffer from elevated emotional distress and physical and psychological disorders. These undesirable side effects from cancer related treatment and therapy amplifies the overall stress. According to the American Music Therapy Association Music Therapy uses music to address physical, emotional, cognitive, and social needs of patients. The purpose of his project was to use music at the bedside to increase the overall quality of life and soothe the undesirable emotions associated with cancer. On our inpatient Blood and Marrow transplant unit, music at the bedside is designed to promote wellness, relaxation and to provide a sense of normalcy and a distraction with individualized, interactive and personal experience through live, virtual musical performances. In 2019 live music began with a trained artist from the Eastman Performing Art Medicine performing in-person on the unit. Schedule, budget, patient population, infection control protocols and expectations were discussed, reviewed and established. Despite the COVID-19 Pandemic, music therapy continued virtually through the use of iPads donated by a former patient with funding and provided through a grant. Informal patient and staff feedback has been positive. Qualitatively, many patients have expressed the music therapy sessions as uplifting, amazing, honorable, and unforgettable. And staff have expressed the joy of seeing patients smile from their interaction with the musician. The program has since been adopted on two other units and early anecdotal evidence show is it positive. Music at the bedside is a non-pharmacological intervention for our cancer patients. The power of music is an unrealized effective and supportive tool that affects and benefits patients emotionally, physically and spiritually. Through enhanced relaxation and interactive listening, our patients are able to experience and have shared a sense of joy, uplifting and improved mood, decreased anxiety and emotional distress and a feeling that aids them to cope with loneliness and fear.