Abstract

Patients in the intensive care unit (ICU) are exposed to numerous stressors including environmental disturbance and extensive medical treatments. The critical state of patients’ medical conditions requires close monitoring for possible rapid changes. One of the standard procedures to maintain adequate oxygen level is mechanical ventilation. This invasive treatment tremendously augments the level of state anxiety among patients. Music therapy has a long history of use in hospital settings as a complementary treatment to improve or maintain patients’ well-being. Studies have shown observable benefits of music therapy in the reduction of state anxiety in patients undergoing medical treatments. However, the administration of musical experience for mechanically ventilated patients in ICU are generally done by non-music therapy staff using pre-recorded music. Publications on music therapy intervention models in the ICU remains scarce. Given the broad range of music therapy methods that can be used for this population, the purpose of this thesis is to design a single session music therapy intervention model for mechanically ventilated patients in the ICU to reduce state anxiety. The structure of this intervention model was based on the intervention research methodology outlined by Fraser and Galinsky [Research on Social Work Practice, 2010]. A systematic literature survey served as the main source of data collection and was then analysed with qualitative content analysis method through a data coding process. This research provides a framework for future music therapy clinical practices and identifies areas for further research with this population.