Storytelling Through Music With Parents Whose Children Have Died From Cancer: A Randomized Controlled Feasibility Trial.

BACKGROUND

Bereaved parents have significantly higher morbidity and mortality than non-bereaved parents. Despite national guidelines recommending bereavement care, resources for bereaved parents are scarce. Most intervention studies lack empirical evidence of effectiveness or alignment with key theoretical concepts.

AIMS

To evaluate the feasibility of a 6-week intervention with parents of children who have died from cancer. Storytelling Through Music (STM) combines multiple modalities of expression (storytelling, reflective writing, songwriting) and psychoeducation to facilitate loss- and restoration-oriented coping by creating a legacy piece (self-written story paired with a song) to help bereaved parents adapt to a life-long process of finding meaning after loss.

METHODS

Two-group, randomized controlled trial, utilizing multiple methods. Participants were randomized to STM or waitlist control. The intervention is delivered online and in a group setting. Descriptive statistics were used for feasibility data, content analysis to evaluate open-ended acceptability questions, and RM ANOVA to evaluate the differences between psychosocial, coping, and grief outcomes.

RESULTS

Twenty-three parents were enrolled. Average age was (range: 32-68) and the child's average age was 18.9 (range: 1.5-35). This study indicates that the online delivery of STM is feasible and acceptable and provides preliminary evidence of reducing prolonged grief and loneliness.

CONCLUSIONS

STM is a theoretically driven, innovative approach to addressing grief in a high-risk, underserved population. Findings suggest STM can be delivered online and is acceptable to participants. Adding music to storytelling and reflective writing provides a unique expression and preliminary data suggests improvements in psychosocial well-being, coping, and grief intensity.