The correlation of attitude towards dying and used methods in the work of music therapists in palliative contexts

Abstract

Background: Music therapy in Germany becomes more and more part of Palliative Care. But as there is no specific training; the music therapists working in this area develop individual theories about how their work contexts and methodology should be.Objective: Objective of my PhD – which is in work – is to find out, if, and if yes how the attitude towards death in general and their own experiences with dying and mourning in their personal and professional environment influences the work of music therapists especially concerning the methods/kind of interventions they use.Methods: For my study I combine qualitative and quantitative data analysis (mixed methods research) using qualitative interviews and a standardized (FIMEST) as well as a self-developed questionnaire.Discussion: The discussion is about how different kinds of interventions may correlate to attitudes and how attitudes may be further developed in a social environment that usually does not consider the encounter with death as an instrument of lea...