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eCAM Advance Access originally published online on April 7, 2005
eCAM 2005 2(2):173-178; doi:10.1093/ecam/neh076
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© The Author (2005). Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved.
The online version of this article has been published under an open access model. Users are entitled to use, reproduce, disseminate, or display the open access version of this article for non-commercial purposes provided that: the original authorship is properly and fully attributed; the Journal and Oxford University Press are attributed as the original place of publication with the correct citation details given; if an article is subsequently reproduced or disseminated not in its entirety but only in part or as a derivative work this must be clearly indicated. For commercial re-use, please contact journals.permissions{at}oupjournals.org

Review

Music Therapy in Hospice and Palliative Care: a Review of the Empirical Data

Russell E. Hilliard

Music Department, State University of New York at New Paltz New Paltz, NY, USA

Although music therapy is an established allied health profession and is used with increasing frequency in the treatment of those with a terminal illness, there is a real dearth of empirical research literature supporting the use of music therapy in end-of-life care. This article reviews the empirical studies found in the literature and documents the emergence of an evidenced-based approach to the use of music therapy in hospice and palliative care. A total of 11 studies are reviewed; of these, six show significant differences supporting the use of music therapy in this area. Dependent variables positively affected by music therapy include pain, physical comfort, fatigue and energy, anxiety and relaxation, time and duration of treatment, mood, spirituality and quality of life. Guidelines for future research are considered, and variables that need to be controlled are presented. The need to create an evidence-based approach to hospice and palliative care music therapy is articulated, and future researchers are empowered to continue to conduct investigations among this population.

Keywords: complementary arts – hospice – music – music therapy – palliative care

For reprints and all correspondence: Dr Russell E. Hilliard, State University of New York at New Paltz, Music Department, 75 South Manheim Boulevard, New Paltz, NY 12561, USA. Tel: +1 845 257 2708; E-mail: rehmt{at}aol.com


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