Clinical decision-making in hospice music therapy: a thematic analysis

Abstract

This study explored the clinical decision-making of three music therapists from a local hospice organization. The purpose of this study was to examine how hospice music therapists choose to work with individuals who have Alzheimer's Disease and dementia in the hospice care setting. Semi-structured interviews were conducted to investigate this topic. A thematic analysis was then used to analyze the data from the participants of this study. From this, three key themes arose: 1) choosing music experiences to meet the needs of dementia patients in hospice, 2) choosing theoretical approaches for dementia patients in hospice, and 3) assessment processes for individuals with dementia in hospice. These three themes were divided into three or more subthemes that further illustrated commonalities between participants' responses. The results suggest that music therapists may best meet the needs of hospice patients who have dementia through individualized and adaptable clinical decision-making processes. Further research is required to better understand implications for music therapists working in this setting.