Description

This article-based PhD thesis aims to explore the music therapy during weaning from invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV) in adult patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU).

Weaning involves highly technical, invasive procedures that are stressful and painful for the patient, sedative and analgesic medication that causes an altered state of consciousness, isolation, communication difficulties, and significant emotional distress. Optimising weaning offers benefits by reducing serious side effects such as tracheostomy, longer hospital stays, or perceived stress.

Music therapy is an evidence-based and non-pharmacological intervention. Through the therapeutic relationship, the music therapist apply active and receptive techniques tailored to the patient’s needs. From a perspective centred on the person and their creative potential, music therapy aims to address respiratory desynchronization, agitation, delirium, difficulties with expression and emotional regulation, and the loss of control and identity experienced during weaning.

The thesis is based on a randomised controlled trial conducted between 2020 and 2023 at the University Hospital of Vitoria-Gasteiz (Araba, Spain), developed through the collaboration with the Música, Arte y Proceso MAP Institute, BioAraba Health Research Institute, and supported by Aalborg University.

The findings aim to improve the recovery of critically ill patients during weaning, facilitating less agitation, fewer medications, and lower risk, and a more humanised approach to care. Furthermore, they may encourage the training of music therapists interested in this field by providing a comprehensive, flexible intervention protocol that applies to such a complex context. Furthermore, the results obtained may encourage the inclusion of music therapists in hospital ICU units, as they can contribute cost-effectively to critical care, bringing creativity, humanity and interdisciplinarity. Finally, the results aim to offer new possibilities for future research.