Dissertation - World Federation of Music Therapy

9.6 Directions for future research
The indicated effect of ten individual BMGIM sessions on mood and quality of life of
cancer survivors needs to be supported by evidence from randomized controlled
studies with a larger sample. It is also necessary to study the effect of BMGIM on
people with different types of cancer separately, to investigate differences and
similarities of male and female participants, and to distinguish between the effects of
BMGIM in the specific phases of cancer treatment.
The participants in this study recommended the inclusion of BMGIM also in the
treatment phase. In order to determine whether receptive music therapy (BMGIM) can
improve mood and quality of life in cancer patients with different diagnoses during
chemotherapy or radiotherapy randomized controlled trials (n=min 75) are
recommended. They should be conducted in collaboration with oncological wards at
selected hospitals. Participants could be randomly assigned to either individual
BMGIM therapy (10 individual sessions, Condition A), relaxation induction and
unguided listening to preferred music (10 individual sessions, Condition B), or the
hospital’s standard care (Control). Mood could be measured with POMS-38 and the
HADS self report questionnaires, enabling comparisons of American and European
studies. Quality of Life could be measured with the EORTC-QLQ-C30, because side
effects are important issues in the treatment phase (or other frequently used
questionnaires like the MAC scale); with the Antonovsky SOC self report
questionnaire (e.g the short form SOC-13) or other relevant, standardized QoL
questionnaires in the rehabilitation phase; with Hearth Hope Index or similar in the
palliative phase. The hospital’s standard evaluation forms should measure
performance and side effects in the treatment phase. Measures could be taken pre-
therapy (baseline), after 3 sessions (prognosis), after 6 sessions (mid), after the last
session (post-test) and two months later (follow-up). Selected participants should be
interviewed after follow-up. Some of the sessions in condition A and B, for example
the 1 st , 3 rd , 6 th , 9 th and 10 th sessions, should be audio recorded for qualitative analysis
of image configuration, with the categories suggested in this study as a point of
reference.
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