Music Therapy Research Program
This page describes the Music Therapy Program in King's Critical Care. We hope that any research is highly translatable to the wider NHS and beyond.
Our Research Questions
Does music therapy reduce length of stay?
Does music therapy reduce delirium or psychomotor dysfunction related to critical illness ?
Does music therapy improve long-term physical, cognitive & psychological outcomes?
Does music therapy lead to health economic benefits?
How do healthcare professionals, patients and families think we should develop music therapy?
Which patients should receive music therapy? Should this occur in critical care or at the point of step-down?
How early in the critical illness can patients receive or participate in music therapy?
What should the 'dose' and format of music therapy be?
What benefits are there to friends or family?
Phase I -Mixed Methods Observational
The first part of the music research program is to perform a mixed methods baseline exercise to establish the views and opinions of patients, relatives and staff as to what the optimal format should be for music therapy and how it should be used. This will include safety and inclusivity considerations and pilot projects.
Phase II - Feasibility
In the feasibility part of the Music Therapy Program, the trial team will design and develop the protocol; intervention; and test safety. They will also get feedback from staff, patients and relatives about the intervention, planned primary outcome measure; and planned secondary outcome measures.
Phase III - Step-Wedge Randomised Controlled Trial
In the randomised controlled trial part of Music therapy, patients will become eligible to go to receive the intervention by unit using step-wedge methodology. The primary outcome measure will be presence of intrusive memories. Secondary outcome measures will including mortality; incidence/severity/length of delirium; sedation use; length of stay.
