A Hybrid eHealth Mindfulness-Based Music Therapy Intervention for Adults Receiving an Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant.

Abstract

Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-SCT) serves as a potentially life-saving treatment option for various hematological malignancies. Although survival rates for allo-SCT recipients have improved over the last decades, survivors often experience persistent adverse physical and psychological symptoms, including nausea, fatigue, depression, and anxiety throughout their treatment and recovery. Additionally, the pharmacological interventions used to support the allo-SCT process (e.g., immunosuppressants, anti-infectives) come with limitations and adverse effects that may have a negative impact on allo-SCT recipients' well-being. Both mindfulness and music therapy have been found to improve symptoms in cancer patients when used separately, although less is known about their combinatorial effects in a hybrid e-Health delivery format in the context of allo-SCT. The current paper introduces a novel integrative intervention, hybrid eHealth Mindfulness-Based Music Therapy (eMBMT), designed to address the physical and psychosocial symptom distress in adults undergoing allo-SCT. We describe the content of the eMBMT program, which is currently being delivered in a pilot research phase to patients with allo-SCT as part of a larger randomized controlled trial. Drawing on evidence-based music therapy and mindfulness practices, the program delivers eight one-hour individual eMBMT sessions, including audio and text materials guided by a board-certified music therapist, all tailored to adults receiving an allo-SCT.