Environmental Music Therapy: A Pilot Study on the Effects of Music Therapy in a Chemotherapy Infusion Suite

Authors

  • Bernardo Canga MMT
  • Cho Long Hahm MA
  • David Lucido PhD
  • Michael L. Grossbard MD
  • Joanne V. Loewy DA, LCAT, MT-BC

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.47513/mmd.v4i4.349

Abstract

Environmental music therapy (EMT) is a noninvasive mind–body intervention that considers the physical, psychological, and cultural needs of patients, caregivers, and staff. Quantitative and qualitative analyses of the effect of EMT on patients, caregivers, and staff revealed that EMT, involving the purposeful use of live music, showed positive effects on stress level and reduced the perception of noise in patients and caregivers when applied in common and treatment areas of the Cancer Center and outpatient infusion facility at a large inner-city hospital. Environmental music therapy attended to the immediate needs of patients and caregivers in a culturally sensitive way both prior to and during treatment. The present study additionally evaluates the effect of EMT’s capacity to alleviate compassion fatigue and stress in oncologists, nurses, and other health professionals.

Author Biographies

Bernardo Canga, MMT

Bernardo Canga, MMT, is a music therapist at The Louis Armstrong Center for Music and Medicine, Beth Israel Medical Center, New York, NY.

Cho Long Hahm, MA

Cho Long Hahm, MA, is the director of Aussiewell Prenatal Music Therapy Center in Seoul, Korea.

David Lucido, PhD

David Lucido, PhD, is a biostatistician in the Office of Grants and Research Administration, Beth Israel Medical Center, NY.

Michael L. Grossbard, MD

Michael L. Grossbard, MD, is the chief, Division of Hematology- Oncology, St. Luke’s-Roosevelt and Beth Israel; Deputy Physician-in-Chief, Continuum Cancer Centers of New York, NY.

Joanne V. Loewy, DA, LCAT, MT-BC

Joanne V. Loewy, DA, LCAT, MT-BC, is the director of The Louis Armstrong Center for Music and Medicine, at Beth Israel Medical Center, New York, NY.

Downloads

Issue

Section

Full Length Articles