Music and healing in cancer care: A survey of supportive care providers

Daykin, Norma; Bunt, Leslie; McClean, Stuart

Abstract

This paper explores the role of music activity and music therapy in health care drawing on a survey of UK cancer care providers offering music interventions and music therapy. The survey examined the extent and type of music provision and explored providers' views about the role and contribution of music and music therapy in healing. As well as music, the survey organisations offered a range of supportive therapies including complementary and alternative therapies (CAM) and creative therapies such as art therapy. The results provide insight into the way in which music and creative therapies are viewed by those responsible for care provision in this sector. The data point towards some of the challenges facing music therapists in the changing world of cancer care. These include responding to changes arising from developments in treatment and the organisation of care as well as increased collaboration with a diverse range of supportive care practitioners. These include providers of music and arts for health activity as well as complementary and alternative therapy practitioners who are increasingly involved in cancer care provision. We discuss the implications of these changes for the development of music therapy in cancer care. © 2006 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Publication Date: Nov 10, 2006
• Journal: Arts in Psychotherapy
• Print ISSN: 0197-4556
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 33
• Issue: 5
• Pages: 402-413
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aip.2006.07.001
• Keywords: music, music therapy, cancer care, creative therapies, arts and health, complementary and alternative therapies (CAM)
• Public URL: https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/1036241
• Publisher URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.aip.2006.07.001
• Additional Information: Additional Information : This paper reports on a survey undertaken of music therapy provision within UK cancer care. It explores managers' perceptions of arts and health, arguing that policies in this emergent field need to be underpinned by a critical understanding of creativity. At the time of submission it has maintained its position as one of the top 16 papers downloaded from this journal (http://info.sciencedirect.com), which is an international resource for arts therapists as well as health policy and research communities. Contribution 70%.