A Seat at the Table for Music Therapy: Perceptions of Music Therapy Within the Hospice Interdisciplinary Team

Music therapy is a newer profession within hospice, with limited evidence of other disciplines’ perceptions of a music therapist’s role in hospice care. The purpose of this study was to examine if perception differences exist between music therapists and interdisciplinary team (IDT) members regarding how 25 job tasks related to the music therapist’s role within a clinical interdisciplinary hospice team. Two groups consisting of board-certified music therapists (MT-BC) and IDT members completed an online Qualtrics survey to rate how 25 job tasks were perceived to pertain to the music therapist’s role in hospice care. A two-way mixed ANOVA indicated the significant differences between the 2 groups for 13 of the 25 tasks, suggesting less understanding of an MT-BC’s role within a hospice IDT. For the 13 tasks perceived significantly different, a one-way ANOVA was run and indicated significant between discipline perceptual differences for nine of the 13 tasks. Qualitative statements indicated contracted and employed MT-BCs experienced similar perceived barriers of IDT colleagues lack of understanding music therapy and the MT-BC not being able to attend IDT or participate regularly. Overall, required IDT groups’ qualitative statements were positive, with the most common responses across disciplines indicating that MT-BCs elicited positive responses from patients and caregivers, provided a distraction from pain or agitation, and increased patients’ quality of life. The current study’s outcomes highlight the need for music therapists to provide more education to colleagues regarding a music therapist’s role in the hospice setting.