Musikkterapeutisk sangskriving med foreldre av premature babyer på sykehus: Hvordan påvirker dette deres opplevelse på sykehuset og relasjon til barnet?

Abstract

Introduction: This paper provides an expanded context and critical reflection on the article «Music Therapy Songwriting with Parents of Premature Infants: How Does it Impact Their Hospital Experience and the Parent-infant Relationship?» stemming from my master's project. It aims to offer a deeper understanding of the project's theme and methodology. Motivated by a personal interest in music therapy in somatic contexts and driven by a desire to contribute to the developing field of literature, this paper presents an in-depth exploration of the significance of music therapy songwriting in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs), particularly focusing on the psychosocial support it offers to parents of premature infants. Theoretical framework: The literature review delves into various music therapy methods in NICUs, emphasizing the psychosocial support provided to parents of premature infants. It highlights the challenges faced by premature infants and their families, advocating for holistic and family-centered care approaches in NICU settings. Additionally, it discusses relevant legislation and guidelines shaping this music therapy practice, setting the stage for a deeper exploration of music therapy songwriting's therapeutic benefits for NICU parents. Method: This qualitative research project adopts a hermeneutic phenomenological perspective, employing semi-structured interviews as the primary data collection method, in addition to the recorded songs created during the music therapy songwriting as supplement data. Reflexivity is emphasized in this project both as a music therapist and researcher, with focus on ethical considerations. Four main themes emerged from the analysis, giving insights into parents' experiences with the music therapy intervention. Discussion: The discussion focuses on the study's findings on music therapy songwriting with NICU parents, viewing them in light of the BEEPS model and comparing them with existing literature. The findings illustrate the intervention's potential as a psychosocial support mechanism for parents during hospitalization and highlights the need for further research on music therapy as psychosocial support for families affected by premature birth across diverse populations and explore the long-term use of the song.