Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-fbnjt Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-02T23:01:51.310Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

The spiritual meaning of pre-loss music therapy to bereaved caregivers of advanced cancer patients

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  13 February 2009

Lucanne Magill
Lucanne Magill*
Affiliation:
University of Windsor, School of Music, Windsor, Ontario, Canada
*
Address correspondence and reprint requests to: Lucanne Magill, 1671 Victoria Avenue, Windsor, ON N8X 1P7, Canada. E-mail: [email protected]
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Objective:

The aim of this study was to learn how music therapy sessions, held prior to the death of a loved one, impact spirituality in surviving caregivers of advanced cancer patients.

Method:

The method of naturalistic inquiry was used to investigate the spiritual meaning of pre-loss music therapy sessions. Bereaved caregivers of seven different patients, who had been receiving music therapy through a home-based hospice program, participated in individual open-ended interviews. Interviews were recorded, transcribed, and coded. Themes were organized as they emerged.

Results:

As caregivers reflected on their experiences in music therapy, they reported autonomous joy (music therapy affected the caregiver directly) and empathic joy (caregivers' joy was based in remembering seeing the patient happy in music therapy). They also noted feelings of empowerment due to the ways they felt they had contributed in the care of the patients through music therapy. The caregivers were found to engage in processes of reflection that inspired these spiritual themes: reflection on the present (connectedness), reflection on the past (remembrance), and reflection on the future (hope). They referred to the ways that the music therapy sessions helped them find connection with self, others (through bringing their loved ones “back to life” and have a “renewal of self”), and the “beyond”; and that times in music therapy brought them happy memories and sentiments of hope. Meaning through transcendence was found to be the overarching trend in this study, as caregivers were lifted from remorse into heightened sense of meaning and gained “airplane views” of their lives.

Significance of results:

Pre-loss music therapy can potentially assist caregivers during times of bereavement, as they retain memories of joy and empowerment, rather than memories of pain and distress, and find meaning through transcendence.

Keywords

MusicMusic therapySpiritualityCaregiversBereavement
Type
Original Articles
Information
Palliative & Supportive Care , Volume 7 , Issue 1 , March 2009 , pp. 97 - 108
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2009

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

Aigen, K. (2005). Naturalistic inquiry. In Music Therapy Research: Quantitative and Qualitative Perspectives, 2nd ed., Wheeler, B. (ed.), pp. 352–364. Phoenixville, PA: Barcelona.Google Scholar
Aldridge, D. (1995). Spirituality, hope and music therapy in palliative care. The Arts in Psychotherapy, 22, 103–109.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Aldridge, D. (1999). Music Therapy in Palliative Care: New Voices. London: Jessica Kingsley Publishers.Google Scholar
Aldridge, D. (2000). Spirituality, Healing and Medicine: Return to the Silence. London: Jessica Kingsley Publishers.Google Scholar
Aldridge, D. (2006). Music therapy and spirituality: A transcendental understanding of suffering. In Music and Altered States: Consciousness, Transcendence, and Addiction, Aldridge, D. & Fachner, J. (eds.), pp. 155–171, London: Jessica Kingsley Publishers.Google Scholar
Barrera, M.E., Rykov, M.H., & Doyle, S.L. (2002). The effects of interactive music therapy on hospitalized children with cancer: A pilot study. Psychooncology, 11(5), 379–388.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Blinderman, C.D. & Cherny, N.I. (2005). Existential issues do not necessarily result in existential suffering: Lessons from cancer patients in Israel. Palliative Medicine, 19(5), 371–380.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Breitbart, W. (2002). Spirituality and meaning in supportive care: spirituality- and meaning-centered group psychotherapy interventions in advanced cancer. Supportive Care in Cancer, 10(4), 272–280.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Breitbart, W., Gibson, C., Poppito, S.R., et al. (2004). Psychotherapeutic interventions at the end of life: A focus on meaning and spirituality. Canadian Journal of Psychiatry, 49(6), 366–372.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Bright, R. (1988). Music Therapy and the Dementias: Improving the Quality of life. St. Louis, MO: MMB Music, Inc.Google Scholar
Burns, S.J., Harbuz, M.S., Hucklebridge, F., et al. (2001). A pilot study into the therapeutic effects of music therapy at a cancer help center. Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine, 7(1), 48–56.Google Scholar
Byock, I. (1996). The nature of suffering and the nature of opportunity at the end-of-life. Clinics in Geriatric Medicine, 12(2), 237–252.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Byock, I. (1997). Dying Well. The Prospect for Growth at the End of Life. New York: Riverhead Books.Google Scholar
Chao, C.S., Chen, C.H., & Yen, M. (2002). The essence of spirituality of terminally ill patients. Journal of Nursing Research, 10(4), 237–245.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Cherny, N.I., Coyle, N., & Foley, K.M. (1994). Suffering in the advanced cancer patient: A definition and taxonomy. Journal of Palliative Care, 10(2), 57–70.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Cherny, N.I., Coyle, N., & Foley, K.M. (1996). Guidelines in the care of the dying cancer patient. Hematology/Oncology Clinics of North America, 10(1), 261–286.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Chochinov, H.M. (2006). Dying, dignity, and new horizons in palliative end-of-life care. CA: a Cancer Journal for Clinicians, 56(2), 84–103.Google ScholarPubMed
Chochinov, H.M., Hack, T., Hassard, T., et al. (2005). Dignity therapy: A novel psychotherapeutic intervention for patients near the end of life. Journal of Clinical Oncology, 23(24), 5520–5525.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Corless, I. (2006). Bereavement. In Textbook of Palliative Nursing, 2nd ed., Ferrell, B.R. & Coyle, N. (eds.), pp. 531–544. New York: Oxford University Press.Google Scholar
Coyle, N. (2006). Introduction to palliative nursing care. In Textbook of Palliative Nursing, 2nd ed., Ferrell, B.R. & Coyle, N. (eds.), pp. 5–11. New York: Oxford University Press.Google Scholar
De Faye, B.J., Wilson, K.G., Chater, S., et al. (2006). Stress and coping with advanced cancer. Palliative & Supportive Care, 4(3), 239–249.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Dileo, C. & Bradt, J. (2005). Medical Music Therapy: a Meta-Analysis & Agenda for Future Research. Cherry Hill, NJ: Jeffrey Books.Google Scholar
Dileo, C. & Loewy, J. (2005). Music Therapy at the End-of-Life. Cherry Hill, NJ: Jeffrey Books.Google Scholar
Dileo, C. & Parker, C. (2005). Final moments: The use of song in relationship completion. In Music Therapy at the End-of-Life, Dileo, C. & Loewy, J. (eds.), pp. 43–56. Cherry Hill, NJ: Jeffrey Books.Google Scholar
Doyle, D. (1992). Have we looked beyond the physical and psychosocial? Journal of Pain and Symptom Management, 7(5), 302–311.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Dumont, S., Turgeon, J., Allard, P., et al. (2006). Caring for a loved one with advanced cancer: Determinants of psychological distress in family caregivers. Journal of Palliative Medicine, 9(4), 912–921.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Edser, S.J. & May, C.G. (2007). Spiritual life after cancer: Connectedness and the will to meaning as an expression of self-help. Journal of Psychosocial Oncology, 25(1), 67–85.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Folkman, S. (1997). Positive psychological states and coping with severe stress. Social Science in Medicine, 45(8), 1207–1221.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Gardner, C. (1999). Enhancing communication between family caregivers and their loved ones with dementia. Doctoral dissertation, New York University.Google Scholar
Glajchen, M. (2004). The emerging role and needs of family caregivers in cancer care. Journal of Supportive Oncology, 2(2), 145–155.Google ScholarPubMed
Hebert, R.S., Arnold, R.M., & Schulz, R. (2007). Improving well-being in caregivers of terminally ill patients. Making the case for patient suffering as a focus for intervention research. Journal of Pain and Symptom Management, 34(5), 539–546.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Herth, K. (1990). Fostering hope in terminally ill people. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 15(1), 1250–1259.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Hilliard, R. (2001). The use of music therapy in meeting the multidimensional needs of hospice patients and families. Journal of Palliative Care, 17(3), 161–166.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Hilliard, R. (2003). The effects of music therapy on the quality and length of life of people diagnosed with terminal cancer. Journal of Music Therapy, 40(2), 113–137.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Hirai, K., Miyashita, M., Morita, T., et al. (2006). Good death in Japanese cancer care: A qualitative study. Journal of Pain and Symptom Management, 31(2), 140–147.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Hogan, B.E. (1999). The experience of music therapy for terminally ill patients: A phenomenological research project. In MusicMedicine 3: MusicMedicine and Music Therapy: Expanding Horizons, Pratt, D.R. & Erdonmez-Grocke, D. (eds.), pp. 242–252. Melbourne, Australia: The University of Melbourne.Google Scholar
Holland, J.C. (1998). Psycho-oncology. New York: Oxford University Press.Google Scholar
Holland, J.C. (2002). Management of grief and loss: Medicine's obligation and challenge. Journal of the American Medical Women's Association, 57(2), 95–96.Google ScholarPubMed
Kissane, D., Lichtenthal, W.G., & Zaider, T. (2007–2008). Family care before and after bereavement. Omega, 56(1), 21–32.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Kissane, D.W., Bloch, S., McKenzie, M., et al. (1998). Family grief therapy: A preliminary account of a new model to promote healthy family functioning during palliative care and bereavement. Psycho-Oncology, 7(1), 14–25.3.0.CO;2-D>CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Kissane, D.W., McKenzie, M., Bloch, S., et al. (2006). Family focused grief therapy: A randomized, controlled trial in palliative care and bereavement. American Journal of Psychiatry, 163, 1208–1218.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Krout, R.E. (2003). Music therapy with imminently dying hospice patients and their families: Facilitating release near the time of death. American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care, 20(2), 129–134.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Lee, C. (1995). Lonely Waters: Proceedings of the International Conference, Music Therapy in Palliative Care. Oxford: Sobell House Publications.Google Scholar
Lee, C. (2005). Living in music. In Music Therapy at the End-of-Life, Dileo, C. & Loewy, J. (eds.), pp. 149–158, Cherry Hill, NJ: Jeffrey Books.Google Scholar
Lethborg, C., Aranda, S., & Kissane, D. (2008). Meaning in adjustment to cancer: A model of care. Palliative & Supportive Care, 6(1), 61–70.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lincoln, Y. & Guba, E. (1985). Naturalistic Inquiry. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Magill, L. (2001). The use of music therapy to address the suffering in advanced cancer pain. Journal of Palliative Care, 17, 167–172.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Magill, L. (2005). Spirituality and music therapy at the end-of-life. In Music Therapy at the End-of-Life, Dileo, C. & Loewy, J. (eds.), pp. 3–18. Cherry Hill, NJ: Jeffrey Books.Google Scholar
Magill, L. (2006 a). Music therapy and spirituality and the challenges of end-stage illness. In Music and Altered States: Consciousness, Transcendence, and Addiction, Aldridge, D. & Fachner, J. (eds.), pp. 172–183. London: Jessica Kingsley Publishers.Google Scholar
Magill, L. (2006 b). The role of music therapy in integrative oncology. Journal of the Society for Integrative Oncology, 4(2), 79–81.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Magill-Levreault, L. (1993). Music therapy in pain and symptom management. Journal of Palliative Care, 9(4), 42–48.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Martin, J. (1991). Music therapy at the end-of-life. In Case Studies in Music Therapy, Bruscia, K. (ed.), pp. 627–632. Phoenixville, PA: Barcelona Publishers.Google Scholar
Morita, T., Kawa, M., Honke, Y., et al. (2004). Existential concerns of terminally ill cancer patients receiving specialized palliative care in Japan. Supportive Care in Cancer, 12(2), 137–140.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Muldoon, M. & King, N. (1995). Spirituality, health care and bioethics. Journal of Religion and Health, 34, 329–349.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Munro, S. (1984). Music Therapy in Palliative Hospice Care. St. Louis, MO.: MMB Music.Google Scholar
O'Callaghan, C. (2001). Bringing music to life: A study of music therapy and palliative care experiences within a cancer hospital. Journal of Palliative Care, 17(3), 155–160.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
O'Callaghan, C. (2004). Music therapy's relevance in a cancer hospital researched through a constructivist lens. Journal of Music Therapy, 41(2), 151–185.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Payne, S., Smith, P., & Dean, S. (1999). Identifying the concerns of informal carers in palliative care. Palliative Medicine, 13(1), 37–44.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Puchalski, C. (2002). Spirituality. In Principles and Practice of Palliative Care and Supportive Oncology, Berger, A., Portenoy, R., & Weissman, D. (eds.), pp. 799–812. Philadelphia, PA: Lippincott, Williams and Wilkins Publishers.Google Scholar
Puchalski, C.M. (2007–2008). Spirituality and the care of patients at the end-of-life: An essential component of care. Omega., 56(1), 33–46.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Reed, P.G. (1992). An emerging paradigm for the investigation of spirituality in nursing. Research in Nursing and Health, 15, 340–357.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Salmon, D. (1993). Music and emotion in palliative care. Journal of Palliative Care, 9(4), 48–52.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Salmon, D. (2001). Music therapy as psychospiritual process in palliative care. Journal of Palliative Care, 17, 142–146.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Sand, L. & Strang, P. (2006). Existential loneliness in a palliative home care setting. Journal of Palliative Medicine, 9(6), 1376–1387.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Saudia, T.L., Kinney, M.R., Brown, K.C., et al. (1991). Health locus of control and helpfulness of prayer. Heart and Lung, 20(1), 60–65.Google ScholarPubMed
Sulmasy, D.P. (2002). A biopsychosocial-spiritual model for the care of patients at the end of life. Gerontologist, 42(3), 24–33.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Walsh, K., Jones, L., Tookman, A., et al. (2007). Reducing emotional distress in people caring for patients receiving specialist palliative care. Randomised trial. British Journal of Psychiatry, 190, 142–147.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Wlodarczyk, N. (2007). The effect of music therapy on the spirituality of persons in an in-patient hospice unit as measured by self-report. Journal of Music Therapy, 44(2), 113–122.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Worden, J.W. (2002). In Principles and Practice of Palliative Care and Supportive Oncology, Berger, A., Portenoy, R. & Weissman, D. (eds.), pp. 813–818. Philadelphia, PA: Lippincott, Williams and Wilkins Publishers.Google Scholar
Zabora, J. & Loscalzo, M. (2002). Psychosocial consequences of advanced cancer. In Principles and Practice of Palliative Care and Supportive Oncology, Berger, A., Portenoy, R. & Weissman, D. (eds.), pp. 749–761. Philadelphia, PA: Lippincott, Williams and Wilkins Publishers.Google Scholar