Measuring Supportive Music and Imagery Interventions: The Development of the Music Therapy Self-Rating Scale.
BACKGROUND
Previous research has demonstrated modest benefits from music-based interventions, specifically music and imagery interventions, during cancer care. However, little attention has been paid to measuring the benefits of music-based interventions using measurement instruments specifically designed to account for the multidimensional nature of music-imagery experiences.


OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to describe the development of, and psychometrically evaluate, the Music Therapy Self-Rating Scale (MTSRS) as a measure for cancer patients engaged in supportive music and imagery interventions.


METHODS
An exploratory factor analysis using baseline data from 76 patients who consented to participate in a music-based intervention study during chemotherapy.


RESULTS
Factor analysis of 14 items revealed four domains: Awareness of Body, Emotionally Focused, Personal Resources, and Treatment Specific. Internal reliability was excellent (Cronbach alphas ranging from 0.75 to 0.88) and construct and divergent-discriminant validity supported.


CONCLUSIONS
The MTSRS is a psychometrically sound, brief instrument that captures essential elements of patient experience during music and imagery interventions.
Shenandoah University Purdue School of Engineering and Technology @ IUPUI/ IU Simon Cancer Center IU School of Medicine/IU Simon Cancer Center ameadows2@su.edu.
Anthony
A
Meadows
Shenandoah University Purdue School of Engineering and Technology @ IUPUI/ IU Simon Cancer Center IU School of Medicine/IU Simon Cancer Center.
Debra S
DS
Burns
Shenandoah University Purdue School of Engineering and Technology @ IUPUI/ IU Simon Cancer Center IU School of Medicine/IU Simon Cancer Center.
Susan M
SM
Perkins
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001364:Awareness / Q000502:physiology; D004644:Emotions / Q000502:physiology; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D019018:Imagery, Psychotherapy / Q000592:standards*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009146:Music; D009147:Music Therapy / Q000592:standards*; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D011594:Psychometrics; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D020377:Self Efficacy; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
assessment; chemotherapy; music therapy; resource oriented; supportive music and imagery; symptom management