A Survey of Factors Influencing Visit Frequencies in Hospice Music Therapy

Abstract

As hospice utilization increases in the United States, research has demonstrated the positive impact of music therapy on patient needs; however, few studies have examined the frequency of these services. The aim of this study was to investigate the average visit frequency used by hospice music therapists and the factors that influence it. This convergent mixed-methods study used a 46-item survey instrument comprised of open- and closed-ended questions on demographics, census, visit frequency, and factors influencing visit frequency. Participants included board-certified music therapists in the United States with at least 2 years of experience working in hospice, either currently or previously. Results revealed that the most utilized visit frequency is two visits per month or one visit every 2 weeks. This remained consistent across the American Music Therapy Association regions, years of experience, and employment status. Multiple factors influenced visit frequencies, mainly falling into two categories: patient influence and hospice company influence. Patient influences included care needs, whether the patient was transitioning or actively dying, and preferences. Hospice company influences included music therapist staffing levels, geographical territory, and caseload size. These findings are discussed in depth and provide recommendations for future research and development of best practice standards in hospice music therapy.