Authors (including presenting author) :
CHENG HWB(1), CHUNG WK(1), CHAN KP(1), MOK WY(1), CHOR PW(1), LEE NY(1), YEUNG ST(1), CHAN OM(1), KAM KW(2), ZHANG SW(2), CHENG SM(2), KUNG KM(2), CHUNG KM(3), HO NL(3), HO LM(3), CHEUNG CW(3)
Affiliation :
(1)M&G, TMH (2)PRC, NTWC (3)Music Flow
Keyword 1: :
Palliative Care
Keyword 3: :
Music Therapy
Keyword 4: :
Holistic Care
Keyword 5: :
Medical Social Collaboration
Keyword 6: :
Patient-centred
Introduction :
The Medical Palliative Medicine (MPM) Team at TMH is committed to providing comprehensive care. To address complex psychosocial and existential distress often experienced in end-of-life care, the multidisciplinary team partnered with the NGO Music Flow to integrate Music Therapy (MT) as an evidence-based modality. MT offers a non-verbal, creative therapeutic outlet, complementing existing services to deepen holistic care for patients and families.
Objectives :
This pilot program aimed to: 1) Systematically integrate MT into the palliative care workflows through defined roles and multidisciplinary collaboration; 2) Evaluate the effectiveness of MT in enhancing health-related quality of life (HRQoL) for palliative care patients; and 3) Assess the impact of MT on depressive symptoms in this vulnerable population.
Methodology :
Conducted between November 2024 and September 2025, the study recruited 56 patients from MPM ward. 43 patients participated (53% female; 47% male; mean age 78.37 years), with top diagnoses including end-stage renal failure (37.8%) and respiratory failure (16.2%). Each received individualized MT sessions, incorporating active (playing, singing) and receptive (listening) methods, legacy work, and family-inclusive sessions. Integration was facilitated by a multidisciplinary team, with the Medical Social Worker coordinating referrals, documenting outcomes, and reporting during weekly conference. Quantitative assessment used the HowRU scale for HRQoL and the PHQ-9 for depressive symptoms, administered pre- and post-intervention. Qualitative feedback was collected from patients, family members, and healthcare staff.
Result & Outcome :
Analysis of completed cases revealed an increasing trend in HowRU scores, suggesting improved health-related quality of life. Concurrently, PHQ-9 scores decreased, indicating a reduction in depressive symptoms. Qualitative feedback highlighted MT's effectiveness in reducing anxiety, facilitating emotional expression and reminiscence, fostering autonomy, and enhancing non-verbal communication. Staff and families observed improved patient engagement and deeper connections, even for non-communicative patients, with sessions also creating a more relaxing ward atmosphere. The pilot successfully demonstrated the therapeutic value of integrating MT into inpatient palliative care. Results support its role as an effective adjunctive therapy for psychosocial well-being. Study limitations include small sample size and elderly-focused cohort. Future directions involve securing funding to sustain the service, expanding its reach, and conducting larger controlled studies to generalize findings.
