Positive Health Online

Abstract

ROBB and COLLEAGUES, 1 Indiana University, School of Nursing, 600 Barnhill Drive, Indianapolis, IN 46202, United States. 2 University of Kansas, School of Music, Music Education and Music Therapy, Lawrence, KS, 66045, United States studied reporting quality of music intervention research, in chronic and acute medical settings.

Background

Concomitant with the growth of music intervention research, are concerns about inadequate intervention reporting and inconsistent terminology, which limits validity, replicability, and clinical application of findings.

Methodology

The authors sought to examine reporting quality of music intervention research, in chronic and acute medical settings, using the Checklist for Reporting Music-based Interventions. In addition, describe patient populations and primary outcomes, intervention content and corresponding interventionist qualifications, and terminology. Searching MEDLINE, PubMed, CINAHL, HealthSTAR, and PsycINFO we identified articles meeting inclusion/exclusion criteria for a five-year period (2010-2015) and extracted relevant data. Coded material included reporting quality across seven areas (theory, content, delivery schedule, interventionist qualifications, treatment fidelity, setting, unit of delivery), author/journal information, patient population/outcomes, and terminology.

Results

Of 860 articles, 187 met review criteria (128 experimental; 59 quasi-experimental), with 121 publishing journals, and authors from 31 countries. Overall reporting quality was poor with <50% providing information for four of the seven checklist components (theory, interventionist qualifications, treatment fidelity, setting). Intervention content reporting was also poor with <50% providing information about the music used, decibel levels/volume controls, or materials. Credentialed music therapists and registered nurses delivered most interventions, with clear differences in content and delivery. Terminology was varied and inconsistent.

Conclusion

Problems with reporting quality impedes meaningful interpretation and cross-study comparisons. Inconsistent and misapplied terminology also create barriers to interprofessional communication and translation of findings to patient care. Improved reporting quality and creation of shared language will advance scientific rigor and clinical relevance of music intervention research.

References

Robb SL1, Hanson-Abromeit D2, May L1, Hernandez-Ruiz E2, Allison M2, Beloat A1, Daugherty S1, Kurtz R2, Ott A2, Oyedele OO1, Polasik S2, Rager A1, Rifkin J2, Wolf E1. Reporting quality of music intervention research in healthcare: A systematic review. Complement Ther Med.38:24-41. Jun 2018. DOI: 10.1016/j.ctim.2018.02.008. Epub Mar 7 2018.