Interdisciplinary Team Members’ Beliefs About the Role of Music Therapy in a Pediatric Outpatient Clinic
Loading...
Author
Darsie, Emily
Date
2006
Degree
Master of Arts in Music Therapy
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to clarify the beliefs of interdisciplinary pediatric
treatment team members regarding the role of music therapy in a pediatric outpatient clinic,
and to determine if the viewing of an educational video inservice could alter those
perceptions. Seventeen participants were recruited from a pediatric hematology/oncology
outpatient clinic, representing four occupational subgroups: physicians (n = 5), clinical
nurses/nurse practitioners (n = 6), psychologists/social workers (n = 2), and child life
specialists/creative arts therapists (n = 4). Subjects were administered a pretest survey that
included twenty-five roles specific to the healthcare setting, and were asked to rate each role
in regards to how they felt each task fell within the role of a music therapist, using a five
point Likert Scale. Subjects then viewed a five-minute video inservice which included
audiovisual clips from music therapy sessions. Following the video, subjects completed a
posttest survey. Results indicated significant differences between occupational groups on
two tasks: Entertain the children and their families when they are not involved in medical
procedures, and provide distraction for children during painful procedures. Results also
indicated significant differences between the pretests and posttests on four of the tasks:
Make written developmental assessments of each child, write out goals and methods to
facilitate each child’s physical development, provide the presence of a supportive individual
during procedures and routines for patients during painful procedures, and assess and set
goals for meeting the emotional/social needs of each child. It is believed that the survey
provided sufficient data on initial perceptions of the role of music therapy in the pediatric
setting. Additionally, it can be assumed that viewing the video inservice had a direct effect on the perceptions of interdisciplinary pediatric team members.