The incidental impact of music on hospital staff: An Italian case study

Abstract

Objective: This study focuses on a group of nurses (n = 11) and doctors (n = 9) who have been regularly exposed to live music for the past five years, as part of a music programme targeted on children, in an Italian paediatric hospital. The aims of the study were to focus on the impact of incidental exposure to music of the hospital staff and to analyse any repercussion that such exposure had on their work. Methods: Grounded theory research method informed the analysis of the semi-structured interviews (N = 20). Results: Results suggest that the hospital staff have a positive view of the music intervention in the light of its perceived benefit on the patients. However, some aspects of the programme, such as the selection of music, were reported to impact negatively on their work. Conclusions: Implications for the development of music programmes in hospitals are discussed.

Keywords:

• music health and well-being
• active and receptive music approaches in paediatrics
• psychosocial music interventions
• live music in hospitals

Acknowledgements

This research was supported by a Research Studentship, PTA030200300938, from the Economic and Social Research Council, and by a Wingate Scholarship both held by the first author. We wish to thank all the nurses and doctors who took part in this study.

Notes

^1. http://www.musique-sante.org/. Musique & Santé has been a pioneer organization that since the early 80s has been running music programmes in French paediatric hospitals.

^2. A copy of the BERA ethical guidelines is available for download at: http://www.bera.ac.uk/files/2008/09/ethica1.pdf.