Part 1
Over the years, music has been used to treat various conditions among people of all ages. The impact of music on individuals has been noted to be a reduction of anxiety, changing one’s perception of pain, and improving quality of life, besides other critical benefits. As a result, music has been used widely with favorable outcomes and responses from patients, friends, and relatives despite the low cost incurred in using music therapy during treatment. Healthcare practitioners use music therapy to block painful stimuli by stimulating fiber activity, closing gates along which pain reaches the brain. Despite numerous benefits associated with music therapy, the medication technique largely influences quality, the cost to the system, and the individual and safety of the patient.
Music therapy is a critical technique medical practitioners use worldwide to cure various conditions. According to Aris et al. (2021), post-operative patients find themselves in pain, particularly after undergoing surgery, requiring an intervention to reduce the pain and anxiety of a surgical operation. Medical practitioners are expected to take care of patients and ensure that the services received by patients are of high quality and individualized. Among the available options are music therapy and medical intervention, where practitioners use various drugs to manage pain in operated patients. The practice of medical practitioners should, however, be aimed at ensuring quality, safety, and cost reduction for the system and individual patients.
Patients are concerned about the quality of services they receive and the cost incurred during the healthcare intervention process. Plapus-George and Weiss (2019) argue that music therapy has, over the years, been criticized by researchers based on its effectiveness in reducing the pain experienced by post-operative patients. The observation affirmed that several patients under music therapy continue to show signs of severe pain despite using music therapy as one of the treatment plans advocated by the medical practitioners. Music therapy can, therefore, not be used solely to reduce pain for post-operative patients. Instead, healthcare providers must use the intervention as a support service to help patients after using medical interventions such as drugs.
The safety of patients is one of the significant objectives of medical practitioners; thus, it should be stressed at all times. Aris et al. (2021) point out that music therapy presents absolute safety among patients since the intervention does not impact the operation part but depends significantly on psychological intervention. Medication errors are considered a significant issue in healthcare leading to life-long problems among patients. Since music therapy does not involve the use of drugs, the chances of medication errors are significantly reduced. However, it is believed that the use of music therapy when the patient is in severe pain without the use of painkillers does not solve the problem and may eventually become a threat to patient safety. The observation showed that most patients under post-operative care used music therapy as a supplementary intervention, not primary care; thus, safety against the severity of their conditions was guaranteed.
The cost of healthcare has been rising worldwide, making it challenging to realize universal quality healthcare for individuals. Nalini (2021) believes music therapy is the cheapest pain intervention for post-operative patients since medical supplies are significantly reduced. The cost of medicinal drugs and equipment has recently increased, making it difficult for healthcare systems and individuals to pay for the services offered. The observation indicated that music therapy used fewer drugs and fewer human resources, translating to low cost to the system. Notably, the cost of healthcare is transferred to individual patients; thus, when the price is low for the system, the patient also pays less. The reduced cost results from music therapy for post-operative patients using music systems are way cheaper than medical interventions. Besides, music therapy does not depend on skills but on the patient’s favorable music.
Part 2
Post-operative patients require intensive care to facilitate recovery; thus, adequate information is needed to ensure that all the necessary steps are followed for safety and quicker recovery, and practicum hours played a critical role in deriving crucial information and evidence relating to how music therapy can be used to help patients recover from pain after surgical operation. During the two hours practicum, I met with the surgeon and nurses taking care of patients with surgical wounds. Additionally, I interacted with patients to monitor their experiences with music therapy and whether the treatment helped them manage pain. Medical practitioners had crucial information about the procedure used to facilitate music therapy. In contrast, nurses interacted with patients regularly to ensure that safety was assured and that pain was managed via another medical means when severity was experienced.
Medical professionals play a critical role in providing information about various therapies to help patients recover. According to Taupikurrahman and Sagiran (2021), surgical operations and an understanding of the recovery process facilitates understanding of the appropriate strategies for reducing pain and managing wounds. The surgeons provided educational tips regarding music therapy and that no music is used during music therapy. According to medical practitioners, the patient’s best music triggers healing and reduces pain after the operation. Nurses pointed out that music therapy cannot be relied upon, especially for patients with other underlying conditions; hence medical intervention was necessary during the healing process. The patients can determine the therapy they prefer and whether the treatment should be used together; thus, I learned that patients are actively involved during the pain management process. However, healthcare professionals cannot use music therapy to treat unconscious patients for safety reasons.
Evidence-based practice has been advocated in healthcare over the years to be assured that the procedures followed would result in appropriate results. According to Nalini (2021), music therapy for post-operative patients tends to incline towards minor surgical operations; hence it can only be used as a supplementary treatment plan for severe operations such as neurosurgery and other significant functions. Nevertheless, information from reviewed materials stresses the benefits of music therapy and that healthcare professionals ought to embrace the practice and inform patients and family members of the benefits associated with the use of music therapy. The documents suggest that music therapy facilitates reduced stress and helps during the rehabilitation process. Besides reducing anxiety, music therapy helps patients cope with treatment and view the operation from a different perspective. A feeling of safety and security speeds up the healing process and ensures that the patients have improved self-esteem and a sense of identity that comes with significant levels of the healing process.
Documents play a critical role in providing information relating to the process of music therapy and types of sound therapies. The papers presented two main types of music therapies, which are receptive and active. According to Aris et al. (2021), the listening-based method is a sensory method, while using musical instruments is a vibrant music therapy. I also learned that music therapy helps improve sleep, reduce chronic pain, and lower cholesterol levels, lowering the risk of heart disease. Therefore, the medical practitioner uses music therapy as a supplementary intervention to ensure that post-operative patients are protected against other conditions that may threaten their health.
Over the years, healthcare professionals have avoided actively using music therapy for various reasons. According to Gordon et al. (2021), leadership, collaboration, and communication have been the main hindrance to the use of music therapy in post-operative care, and change management have portrayed some gaps, thus making it difficult to realize the appropriate use of change management. In exploring the influence of leadership, I noted that medical practitioners are regulated by health facility leadership; hence the use of music therapy must be approved. Besides, medical practitioners must collaborate with family members, patients, and other medical personnel from various departments to realize integrated post-operative patient care. Although professional bodies medically approve the use of music, some changes must be achieved through appropriate change management and policy formulation and implementation. Policies highlight the procedures to be followed and the cases that demand music therapy as an alternative treatment plan.
Challenges form part of the researcher’s life hence presenting problems to patients, families, or groups is bound to face challenges. Gordon et al. (2021) argue that the concern of the patients is the safety and cost of healthcare services; thus, the main challenge in communicating problems with the patient is an assurance of safety. The main problem I encountered in presenting the issue to the patients was convincing patients that music therapy was adequate and would help reduce chronic pain experienced. The problem resulted from underlying beliefs that the only medication to help reduce pain is drugs to suppress pain and facilitate the healing process. To present information, it was necessary to visit patients in hospitals, which was also a challenge since most healthcare facilities have laid down procedures for conducting such research and passing information to patients is controlled. As a result, some facilities denied entry, making it challenging to gather the required information and present the problem. Besides, medical practitioners were considered employees with limited rights to receive or give information on behalf of the facility, thus making it challenging to present the required information about music therapy and other critical intervention for pain in postoperative patients.
Patients, family members, or groups must be aware of the problems they face; hence, communication is critical in healthcare. According to Plapus-George and Weiss (2019), the recipients of information tend to doubt, thus conducting their research to ascertain the authenticity of the information given. The problem communicated with the patients was well received, and they believed my way of reasoning since it was based on evidence-based practice. The problem of music therapy as an intervention and the benefits it presents to patients and family members was well thought hence patients understood that the issue of pain in post-operative patients demanded various methods for speedy recovery in the safest ways.
Leadership is critical in eliminating barriers in presenting problems to a team. Plapus-George and Weiss (2019) argue that engagement of the team or recipient of information through creating a favorable communication environment eliminates barriers. Patients, families, and groups must feel secure to give and receive information appropriately and in the intended form. During interactions, problem presentation was gradually done, and the method of passing information was psychologically executed. I used collaboration to create an environment for the patients to see the problem through the lenses of their experience and to ensure that communication was effectively conducted. The policy requirements were well communicated to patients and stakeholders to ensure that music therapy was accepted in various healthcare facilities. Besides, pain relief for patients was a matter of urgency after surgical operation, thus making it possible for patients and groups to understand the problem and associate with it hence eliminating the barriers encountered.
More than the definition of problems is needed in healthcare; thus, solutions play a critical role in realizing universal quality healthcare. The problem description was changed based on the benefits to individual patient needs and the surgical operation conducted on the patient. Besides, the understanding of the desires of the patients was incorporated into the problem presentation to ensure the cost-effectiveness and safety of the patient (Gordon et al., 2021). Nevertheless, the problem presentation to various individuals requires the use of all stakeholders. In this problem presentation, the focus was on the patient and family or group. I would have done it differently by involving several stakeholders, such as government authorities, to understand legislation concerning the problem identified. Presenting the problem would also take long to ensure the gradual passing of information and comprehension among the recipients.
References
Aris, A., Sulaiman, S., & Che Hasan, M. K. (2021). Effects of music therapy on physiological outcomes for post-operative total knee arthroplasty (TKA) patients. Enfermería Clínica, 31, S10-S15. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enfcli.2020.10.006
Gordon, H. S., Solanki, P., Bokhour, B. G., & Gopal, R. K. (2020). “I’m not feeling like I’m part of the conversation” patients’ perspectives on communicating in clinical video Telehealth visits. Journal of General Internal Medicine, 35(6), 1751-1758. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11606-020-05673-w
Nalini, R. (2021). Effect of Music therapy on pain among Post-operative patients at selected Hospital. International Journal of Advances in Nursing Management, 9(3), 309-314.
Plapus-George, D., & Weiss, C. (2019). Successful introduction of music therapy for post-operative pain, anxiety, and nausea in the adult oncology patient. Journal of PeriAnesthesia Nursing, 34(4), e42. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jopan.2019.05.100
Taupikurrahman, M., & Sagiran, S. (2021). Effectiveness of music therapy against decreased pain levels post-heart surgery: A scoping review. Jurnal Aisyah : Jurnal Ilmu Kesehatan, 6(3). https://doi.org/10.30604/jika.v6i3.584
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