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Music’s relevance for pediatric cancer patients: a constructivist and mosaic research approach

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Abstract

Purpose

Music is important in most children’s lives. To advance efficacious pediatric supportive care, it is necessary to understand young cancer patients’ thoughts about music. Concern about inviting unwell children to express opinions has resulted in scant research examining their views. “Mosaic” research examines children’s experiences through investigating multiple perspectives which inform a “co-constructed meaning.” This study examines pediatric cancer patients’ and their parents’ perspectives about music and music therapy’s role in the children’s lives.

Materials and methods

Children were receiving care at three hospitals with the Paediatric Integrative Cancer Service in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. A constructivist research approach with grounded theory design was applied. Children up to 14 years old with cancer and parents participated. Data included transcripts from semi-structured research interviews and observations of children’s music behaviors. Qualitative inter-rater reliability was integrated. Findings were compared with music therapists’ perspectives examined elsewhere.

Results

Interviews were conducted with 26 patients, median age 5.7 years, and 28 parents. Data “saturation” was achieved. A substantive grounded theory emerged: Children’s adverse cancer experiences are often alleviated by music usages. Broader family, social, and electronic musical interactions also promote children’s resilience and “normal” development. Music therapy and associated programs often, but not always, alleviate children’s distress. Positive effects may carry over into children’s home lives and vicariously support families.

Conclusions

Health professionals should consider ways to assist parents who are often using music to support children with cancer. Hospitals can promote pediatric cancer patients’ resilience by providing music-based support services, including music therapy, and reducing unwanted stressful sounds.

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Notes

  1. Grounded theory research processes, including theoretical sampling, data saturation, and comparative analysis, may result in one of three theory levels: substantive, middle range, or formal, which represent decreasing levels of specificity to a group and/or place. Theory denotes a set of well-developed codes, categories, and themes that are “systematically interrelated through statements of relationship…that explains some phenomenon…even though…theory may become outdated as new knowledge comes to light” [37] (p. 55).

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Acknowledgments

The authors thank the children and parent participants in this research and Dr Helen Shoemark and Valma Edwards for their support. Clare O’Callaghan’s contribution was enabled through an NHMRC Post Doctoral Fellowship (Palliative Care, 2008–2009).

Conflict of interest statement

There was no conflict of interest.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, Australia

    Clare O’Callaghan & Philippa Barry

  2. Monash Children’s, Melbourne, Australia

    Annette Baron

  3. Royal Children’s Hospital, Melbourne, Australia

    Beth Dun

Authors
  1. Clare O’Callaghan
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  2. Annette Baron
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  3. Philippa Barry
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  4. Beth Dun
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Clare O’Callaghan.

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O’Callaghan, C., Baron, A., Barry, P. et al. Music’s relevance for pediatric cancer patients: a constructivist and mosaic research approach. Support Care Cancer 19, 779–788 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-010-0879-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-010-0879-9

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