The Effects of Singing-based Music Therapy Program on the Level of Psychoemotional Benefits in Caregivers of ICU Patients

• Background: Family caregivers of ICU patients experience high level of distress due to the severity of illness that their family members demonstrate and the perceived limitation in control during their caregiving. This psychological issue in family caregivers have been documented to affect not only the caregivers' psychosocial health but also the quality of care for patients, which would also be influencing factors for treatment outcomes of patients. As such, family-centered care has been emphasized in related professions. Intervention efforts for family caregivers are also of interest. Given that music has been evidenced to effectively alleviate emotional stress of caregivers and that musical activities can be used in an individualized way at different levels, the use of music for addressing psychosocial needs of this population is potential. Among musical activities, singing is one of the most common activities and also available in everyday life regardless of the level of musical background in the past, which increases the possibility to utilize it as a personal strategy for individuals with a broad range of musical experiences and music use.
• Purpose: This study aimed to examine the changes in the level of depression, anxiety, and emotional states of family caregivers of ICU patients after participation in singing-based music therapy intervention.
• Intervention: Singing-based music therapy program consists of the sequences of the following: (1) listening to a participant's preferred music and identifying his and her emotional states, (2) singing for emotional changes, and (3) discussing what he or she experiences during singing and identifying how they apply such experience to their personal use of music for emotional changes in his or her everyday life.
• Measures: In order to examine the changes in the perceived psychological health after participation in singing-based intervention, Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D), State Anxiety Inventory (STAI), and a 100mm visual analog scale for ratings on emotional state are administered. Also, in order to identify and control the effect of level of caregiving burden on current emotional states, Subjective Caregiving Burden Scale is administered.

Inclusion criteria

• Ages 18 years and over
• Family members (spouse, parents, or children) of patients who stay in the ICU for more than 3 days
• Provision of the majority of unpaid physical, emotional, and/or instrumental care to the patients
• Voluntarily agreement with participation in the study

Exclusion criteria

• A history of cognitive impairment (e.g., dementia), psychiatric disorders or neurological disorders
• Indication of discernible hearing deficits
• Difficulties in verbal communication
• If the caregiver's relationship to a patient is close friend or relatives (not immediate family of patients)
• Refusal to participate in the study