Patient Outcomes of a Virtual Reality-Based Music Therapy Pilot in Palliative Care

Background: Hospitalized patients with palliative care needs often have high levels of physical and psychological symptom distress. Virtual reality (VR) with a music therapy intervention may improve physical and psychological symptoms. Objectives: To assess symptom distress and quality of life (QOL)...

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Main Authors: Adreanne Brungardt, Angela Wibben, Prajakta Shanbhag, Debra Boeldt, Jeanie Youngwerth, Amanda Tompkins, Abigail J. Rolbiecki, Heather Coats, A. Blythe LaGasse, Jean S. Kutner, Hillary D. Lum
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Mary Ann Liebert 2024-10-01
Series:Palliative Medicine Reports
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Online Access:https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/10.1089/pmr.2024.0022
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author Adreanne Brungardt
Angela Wibben
Prajakta Shanbhag
Debra Boeldt
Jeanie Youngwerth
Amanda Tompkins
Abigail J. Rolbiecki
Heather Coats
A. Blythe LaGasse
Jean S. Kutner
Hillary D. Lum
author_facet Adreanne Brungardt
Angela Wibben
Prajakta Shanbhag
Debra Boeldt
Jeanie Youngwerth
Amanda Tompkins
Abigail J. Rolbiecki
Heather Coats
A. Blythe LaGasse
Jean S. Kutner
Hillary D. Lum
author_sort Adreanne Brungardt
collection DOAJ
description Background: Hospitalized patients with palliative care needs often have high levels of physical and psychological symptom distress. Virtual reality (VR) with a music therapy intervention may improve physical and psychological symptoms. Objectives: To assess symptom distress and quality of life (QOL) among hospitalized palliative care patients who participated in a virtual reality-based music therapy (VR-MT) intervention, and to explore VR-MT from the perspectives of health care professionals involved in their care. Design: Single-arm pilot study of a two-day VR-MT intervention. Setting/Participants: Patients seen by an inpatient palliative care consultation service at a U.S. hospital could participate in the VR-MT intervention. Participants created a customized soundtrack with a music therapist and then listened to it while experiencing a 360-degree VR nature-based environment of their choice. Measurements: Patients completed the Edmonton Symptom Assessment System, revised version (ESAS-r) and McGill Quality of Life, revised version (MQOL-R) before and after VR-MT. Members of the participants’ health care teams were interviewed. Results: Seventeen patients completed VR-MT (range 20–79 years of age, 59% women). Moderate clinical improvements were observed for total ESAS-r score (Cohen’s d effect size, 0.68), physical distress subscale (0.52), and psychological distress subscale (0.60); small improvements were observed in total MQOL-r score (0.26) and the existential subscale (0.27). Health care team members described the value of VR-MT as facilitating meaningful conversations. Conclusions: This pilot study of VR combined with a music therapy intervention for hospitalized patients with palliative care needs supports opportunities for future study of potential improvements in symptom distress and QOL.
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publishDate 2024-10-01
publisher Mary Ann Liebert
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series Palliative Medicine Reports
spelling doaj-art-558ce6da6cd3471c817b036d4985f3832025-08-20T01:49:57ZengMary Ann LiebertPalliative Medicine Reports2689-28202024-10-015127828510.1089/pmr.2024.0022Patient Outcomes of a Virtual Reality-Based Music Therapy Pilot in Palliative CareAdreanne Brungardt0Angela Wibben1Prajakta Shanbhag2Debra Boeldt3Jeanie Youngwerth4Amanda Tompkins5Abigail J. Rolbiecki6Heather Coats7A. Blythe LaGasse8Jean S. Kutner9Hillary D. Lum10Division of Geriatric Medicine, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado, USA.University of Colorado Hospital Palliative Care Consult Service, University of Colorado Hospital, Aurora, Colorado, USA.Division of Geriatric Medicine, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado, USA.National Mental Health Innovation Center, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, USA.University of Colorado Hospital Palliative Care Consult Service, University of Colorado Hospital, Aurora, Colorado, USA.Division of General Internal Medicine, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado, USA.Division of Geriatric Medicine, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado, USA.College of Nursing, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, USA.School of Music, Theatre and Dance, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA.University of Colorado Hospital Palliative Care Consult Service, University of Colorado Hospital, Aurora, Colorado, USA.Division of Geriatric Medicine, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado, USA.Background: Hospitalized patients with palliative care needs often have high levels of physical and psychological symptom distress. Virtual reality (VR) with a music therapy intervention may improve physical and psychological symptoms. Objectives: To assess symptom distress and quality of life (QOL) among hospitalized palliative care patients who participated in a virtual reality-based music therapy (VR-MT) intervention, and to explore VR-MT from the perspectives of health care professionals involved in their care. Design: Single-arm pilot study of a two-day VR-MT intervention. Setting/Participants: Patients seen by an inpatient palliative care consultation service at a U.S. hospital could participate in the VR-MT intervention. Participants created a customized soundtrack with a music therapist and then listened to it while experiencing a 360-degree VR nature-based environment of their choice. Measurements: Patients completed the Edmonton Symptom Assessment System, revised version (ESAS-r) and McGill Quality of Life, revised version (MQOL-R) before and after VR-MT. Members of the participants’ health care teams were interviewed. Results: Seventeen patients completed VR-MT (range 20–79 years of age, 59% women). Moderate clinical improvements were observed for total ESAS-r score (Cohen’s d effect size, 0.68), physical distress subscale (0.52), and psychological distress subscale (0.60); small improvements were observed in total MQOL-r score (0.26) and the existential subscale (0.27). Health care team members described the value of VR-MT as facilitating meaningful conversations. Conclusions: This pilot study of VR combined with a music therapy intervention for hospitalized patients with palliative care needs supports opportunities for future study of potential improvements in symptom distress and QOL.https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/10.1089/pmr.2024.0022hospital-based caremusic therapypalliative carepilot studyvirtual reality
spellingShingle Adreanne Brungardt
Angela Wibben
Prajakta Shanbhag
Debra Boeldt
Jeanie Youngwerth
Amanda Tompkins
Abigail J. Rolbiecki
Heather Coats
A. Blythe LaGasse
Jean S. Kutner
Hillary D. Lum
Patient Outcomes of a Virtual Reality-Based Music Therapy Pilot in Palliative Care
Palliative Medicine Reports
hospital-based care
music therapy
palliative care
pilot study
virtual reality
title Patient Outcomes of a Virtual Reality-Based Music Therapy Pilot in Palliative Care
title_full Patient Outcomes of a Virtual Reality-Based Music Therapy Pilot in Palliative Care
title_fullStr Patient Outcomes of a Virtual Reality-Based Music Therapy Pilot in Palliative Care
title_full_unstemmed Patient Outcomes of a Virtual Reality-Based Music Therapy Pilot in Palliative Care
title_short Patient Outcomes of a Virtual Reality-Based Music Therapy Pilot in Palliative Care
title_sort patient outcomes of a virtual reality based music therapy pilot in palliative care
topic hospital-based care
music therapy
palliative care
pilot study
virtual reality
url https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/10.1089/pmr.2024.0022
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