Storytelling Through Music With Parents Whose Children Have Died From Cancer: A Randomized Controlled Feasibility Trial.

Abstract

Background: Bereaved parents have significantly higher morbidity and mortality than non-bereaved parents. Despite national guidelines recommending bereavement care, resources for bereaved parents are scarce. Most intervention studies lack empirical evidence of effectiveness or alignment with key theoretical concepts.

Aims: To evaluate the feasibility of a 6-week intervention with parents of children who have died from cancer. Storytelling Through Music (STM) combines multiple modalities of expression (storytelling, reflective writing, songwriting) and psychoeducation to facilitate loss- and restoration-oriented coping by creating a legacy piece (self-written story paired with a song) to help bereaved parents adapt to a life-long process of finding meaning after loss.

Methods: Two-group, randomized controlled trial, utilizing multiple methods. Participants were randomized to STM or waitlist control. The intervention is delivered online and in a group setting. Descriptive statistics were used for feasibility data, content analysis to evaluate open-ended acceptability questions, and RM ANOVA to evaluate the differences between psychosocial, coping, and grief outcomes.

Results: Twenty-three parents were enrolled. Average age was (range: 32-68) and the child's average age was 18.9 (range: 1.5-35). This study indicates that the online delivery of STM is feasible and acceptable and provides preliminary evidence of reducing prolonged grief and loneliness.

Conclusions: STM is a theoretically driven, innovative approach to addressing grief in a high-risk, underserved population. Findings suggest STM can be delivered online and is acceptable to participants. Adding music to storytelling and reflective writing provides a unique expression and preliminary data suggests improvements in psychosocial well-being, coping, and grief intensity.