title: Family members' views on the benefits of harp music vigils for terminally-ill or dying loved ones.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Music-thanatology is a palliative modality that uses harp and voice to provide bedside vigils, particularly for terminally ill or actively dying. We sought to determine the benefits of music vigils for terminally ill patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Survey of 55 family members, whose terminally ill loved one experienced a music vigil during hospitalization, regarding effects on the patient's breathing, relaxation, comfort, pain and ability to sleep. Written comments on negative and positive results of the vigils were coded using content analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Family members perceived that the vigils resulted in modest improvement in the patients' breathing, relaxation, comfort, and ability to sleep, with fewer positive effects on pain, and almost no negative effects. Open ended comments focused on the positive benefit in increasing calm, relaxation, comfort. Comments on the positive effects for the family were almost as common as comments on the positive results for the patient.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The use of music-vigils in palliative care should be investigated more extensively as our study supports that this intervention has benefits, almost no risk, minimal cost, and may improve patient-family experience of the dying process.
authors.affiliation: Health Services Research & Development,Portland Veterans Affairs Medical Center,Portland, OR.
authors.forename: Linda
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ganzini
authors.affiliation: University of Notre Dame,Notre Dame, IN.
authors.forename: Alexa
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rakoski
authors.affiliation: SacredFlight, Portland OR.
authors.forename: Sharilyn
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cohn
authors.affiliation: Kaiser Permanente, Portland, OR.
authors.forename: Richard A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Mularski
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005190:Family / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009147:Music Therapy / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D019452:Terminally Ill / Q000523:psychology*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: spirituality