The effect of music therapy sessions on compassion fatigue and team building of professional hospice caregivers

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of music therapy on compassion fatigue and team building of professional hospice workers. Participants were nurses, social workers, and chaplains and were employed for at least one year in hospice care. Seventeen participants engaged in one of tw...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The Arts in psychotherapy 2006, Vol.33 (5), p.395-401
Main Author: Hilliard, Russell E.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Alternative medicine
Biological and medical sciences
Burnout
Compassion fatigue
Complementary medicine
Creative arts therapy
Hospice
Medical sciences
Music therapy
Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry
Psychopathology. Psychiatry
Relaxation. Biofeedback. Hypnosis. Selfregulation. Meditation
Team building
Treatments
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Summary:The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of music therapy on compassion fatigue and team building of professional hospice workers. Participants were nurses, social workers, and chaplains and were employed for at least one year in hospice care. Seventeen participants engaged in one of two experimental music therapy groups. Experimental group 1 utilized an ecological music therapy approach with an open, free form without structure and encouraged participation in the live music experiences of instrumental improvisation as well as toning and chanting. Experimental group 2 utilized a didactic music therapy approach with a structured format wherein interventions were planned and facilitated by the music therapist a priori. Such interventions included guided meditation with live music, lyric analyses, and music and movement. To measure compassion fatigue, the Compassion Fatigue Scale (CFS) was used as a pre- and post-test measure in each group. To measure team building, the Team Building Questionnaire (TBQ) was used as a pre-and post-test measure in each group. Statistical analyses indicated a significant improvement in team building in both groups but no significant differences with regard to compassion fatigue. Further research studying the effects of music therapy on compassion fatigue and team building of professional hospice caregivers is recommended.
ISSN:0197-4556
1873-5878
DOI:10.1016/j.aip.2006.06.002