Authors (including presenting author) :
Leung SF(1), Yuk SM(1), Wong N(1), Tsoi YK(1)
Affiliation :
(1)Department of Medicine, Haven of Hope Hospital
Introduction :
End-of-life care encompasses a holistic approach, addressing the physical, emotional, social, and spiritual needs of patients and their families. The focus is on palliative, supportive, and hospice care, aiming to alleviate pain and other distressing symptoms, allowing patients to spend their final days in comfort (NIH, 2022). As patients enter the dying phase, they and their families frequently encounter profound emotional distress. Notably, research indicates that hearing is the last sense to fade during this period (University of British Columbia, 2020). This insight opens avenues for healthcare workers to provide emotional support through music therapy, which has been shown to bring comfort and peace at the end of life (David Victor, 2023).
Objectives :
1) To provide dying patients with peace and comfort by allowing them to listen to their favorite music in a serene environment. 2) To enable families to offer their loved one’s emotional nursing care, thereby alleviating their own distress while fostering a comforting atmosphere.
Methodology :
To implement music therapy effectively, we adopted the following strategies: 1) Create a private and quiet space for patients, using a folding partition decorated with a "Rainbow Poster." 2) Encourage families accompany and share their loved one’s favorite music. 3) In cases where patients have no family or friends, we provide soft music through a robot, scheduled to play for 20-30 minutes during each shift.
Result & Outcome :
From January to December 2024, we implemented music therapy in an infirmary ward for 21 terminally ill patients, who exhibited a noticeable sense of peace during their final moments. Families played an active role in this process, bringing their loved ones' favorite music, which proved to be a meaningful form of care. Feedback from families indicated that they felt soothed and comforted, appreciating the opportunity to contribute to their loved one’s emotional well-being.
Additionally, a questionnaire completed by 25 healthcare staff members including nurses and assistants, revealed strong support for music therapy. They acknowledged its value in enhancing care for dying patients and expressed a desire to integrate it into quiet areas of the facility. Healthcare workers not only provide essential medical care but also offer emotional support to families, enabling them to find solace in their final moments together through music therapy. By creating private, tranquil spaces, we can facilitate the best emotional care for patients in their final days.
