Child-Parent Wellbeing in a Paediatric Ward: The Role of Music Therapy in Supporting Children and Their Parents Facing the Challenge of Hospitalisation

Abstract

This qualitative study investigates the role of short-term music therapy in supporting children and their parents facing the difficulties of hospitalisation. It took place on a paediatric ward of a general hospital in New Zealand. This research endeavoured to answer three research questions. Firstly, how might music therapy support hospitalised children? Secondly, how can it support parents of hospitalised children? Thirdly, is it important/valuable for music therapists working in a paediatric ward to involve parent(s) in music therapy sessions? The qualitative study utilised a naturalistic inquiry approach. Three hospitalised children of varying ages (11 months, 5 and 7 years), who were accompanied by a parent, participated in individual music therapy sessions. Data was collected from the music therapy student's (MTS) clinical notes of the sessions, semi-structured interviews with the children's parents and a staff member, and a research journal. It was discovered that music therapy supported the psychosocial needs of the paediatric patients and their parents who participated in this study in many ways. For the children, the findings were categorised into 2 main areas: 1) promoting normalisation; and 2) providing emotional/psychological support. For parents, the findings were categorised into 3 main areas: 1) eliciting positive changes in mood; 2) reducing anxiety; and 3) supporting parental learning/parenting. Furthermore, the findings suggested that the wellbeing of the parent-child relationship can be supported during music therapy. The importance of parental involvement varied for each case, and the findings were inconsistent between data sources. Factors that may determine parental involvement and the benefits of both parental presence and absence during sessions were elicited in the findings. From the views of the participants consulted in this study it was concluded that music therapy has the potential to positively support paediatric wards in New Zealand to provide an environment that is responsive to the psychosocial needs of hospitalised children and their parents.