ABSTRACT
Nurses use music therapeutically but often assume that all patients will equally appreciate the same type of music. Cultural differences in music preferences are compared across five pain studies. Music preferences for pain relief are described as the most frequently chosen type of music for each culture. Findings indicate that in four studies, musical choices were related to cultural background (p = .002 to .049). Although the majority in each group chose among the other types of music, Caucasians most frequently chose orchestra music, African Americans chose jazz, and Taiwanese chose harp music. For culturally congruent care, nurses should become aware of cultural differences in music preference and provide culturally specific selections among other music expected to have a therapeutic effect.
Subject(s)
Black or African American/psychology , Cultural Characteristics , Ethnicity/psychology , Music Therapy , Pain/nursing , Patient Satisfaction , White People/psychology , Black People , Cultural Diversity , Female , Humans , Male , Nurse's Role , Pain Management , Sampling Studies , Taiwan/ethnology , United StatesABSTRACT
1. For nurses to work effectively with families faced with making a nursing home placement decision, they need to understand cultural issues of the patients and their caregivers. 2. Caregivers spend more time with other family members and in social activities following the elder's placement in a nursing home and also have improved relationships with the elder. 3. Few differences were observed between the African-American and European-American caregivers. Decisions appear to be similar regardless of cultural norms.
