Feasibility and Acceptability of Remote Music Therapy for Cognitively Impaired Children Receiving Palliative/Complex Care and Their Families.

Abstract

Music therapy is one palliative care approach to improve physical and psychological outcomes for cognitively impaired children with medical complexity (CMC), their parents, and families. However, CMC are often excluded because some specialist services may not accommodate cognitively impaired and nonverbal children and are generally only available within metropolitan areas (large hospitals/cities). Many CMC are at home and cannot access such interventions. This study examined the feasibility and acceptability of a home-based, remote music therapy (RemoteMT) intervention for cognitively impaired CMC receiving palliative or complex care. One-group pre-/post-intervention study design. Seventeen CMC receiving palliative/complex care and their parents (<i>N =</i> 17 dyads) participated in the study. All study activities took place in participant homes in the United States. Parents completed measures at T1 pre- (baseline) and T2 post-intervention (six weeks post-baseline) to assess CMC outcomes of physical stress and sleep disturbance; parent outcomes of anxiety, sleep disturbance, and perceived stress; and family outcomes of family adaptability and cohesion. Results demonstrated improved child, parent, and family outcomes (e.g., <i>p =</i> 0.027 for child physical stress, <i>p =</i> 0.095 for family cohesion, <i>p =</i> 0.105) and feasible recruitment, data collection and intervention delivery. RemoteMT was a feasible and acceptable intervention for cognitively impaired CMC and their parents. Results indicate strong promise for benefits to child and parent outcomes. Full-scale efficacy testing is warranted.