HOW MUSIC THERAPY IS PERCEIVED IN A PEDIATRIC AMBULATORY CHEMOTHERAPY UNIT IN A PERUVIAN HOSPITAL: EXPERIENCE REPORT

Abstract

This report presents descriptions of how music therapy was perceived in a pediatric ambulatory chemotherapy unit. These descriptions were collected through interviews with caregivers, hospital volunteers and members of the medical team to explore the interviewees’ experiences of the impact of music therapy interventions on the children, the hospital environment, the caregivers and the interviewees themselves. Twelve themes emerged from the interviews with attention, enjoyment and relaxation being the key themes to describe the benefits of music therapy. Between and during medical procedures, active and receptive music therapy interventions provided a supportive distraction from the challenging environment, thereby helping the children to better cope with the situation and providing possibilities to encourage social engagement and interactions. The music therapy interventions not only had a positive impact on the children, but also on the people around them and on the atmosphere of the hospital environment. Through music therapy, children’s cooperation during medical procedures improved, which facilitated the staff in carrying out the procedures. These findings support music therapy as having an ability to create meaningful moments in an intense and high-tempo medical unit and contribute to the child’s treatment process from a holistic perspective.