An interpretative phenomenological analysis of an improvisational music therapy program for cancer patients.
BACKGROUND
Although there are an increasing number of qualitative studies investigating the benefits of music therapy interventions in cancer care settings, few studies have adopted a phenomenological approach to explore how and why such interventions work.


OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to explore the psychological processes involved in an improvisational music therapy program for cancer patients.


METHODS
Nine individuals took part in an improvisational music therapy program and participated in semi-structured interviews. Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) was employed as a theoretical and methodological framework for the analysis of the interviews.


RESULTS
Recurrent themes revealed a variety of social and psychological benefits related to the experience of music therapy, such as facilitating peer support and group interaction, increasing self-confidence, relaxation, the generation of positive feelings, stress relief and feelings of enhanced communication through music. There was also an emphasis upon the importance of social interaction and communication.


CONCLUSIONS
This paper highlights a number of key benefits connected with music therapy for patients with cancer and the effectiveness of IPA in applied health psychology research.
Glasgow Caledonian University.
Maria
M
Pothoulaki
Raymond
R
MacDonald
Paul
P
Flowers
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003142:Communication; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009147:Music Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D012107:Research Design; D012606:Scotland; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012944:Social Support; D016896:Treatment Outcome