A study exploring the effects of attending a pain choir on wellbeing
Research type
Research Study
Full title
A qualitative study exploring the effects of attending a community pain service choir on wellbeing in people who experience chronic pain.
IRAS ID
159077
Contact name
Mirella Hopper
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Lancaster University
Research summary
Research has identified physiological benefits of singing, including breathing, muscle tension, improved energy and pain reduction as a result of released endorphins. Choral singing has also shown to improve mental wellbeing through focused attention, social support, positive affect and cognitive stimulation.
Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT) offers an effective alternative approach to Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for individuals who experience chronic pain and aims to enable patients to ‘live well’ despite their pain. In 2013 a patient from a SFBT-approach community pain service volunteered to direct a choir for others with chronic pain, due to her experiences of improved wellbeing as a result of singing. A pilot study of the choir revealed statistically and clinically significant changes in mental wellbeing of choir attendees after 12 weeks. This study made recommendations for qualitative research to be undertaken to explore patient experiences of the choir further.
Although research into choral singing and wellbeing has been carried out previously, studies have not explored this with a pain population, using qualitative methods only, from a SFBT position or with an expert patient choir director. The focus of this qualitative study is to determine if patients feel that the choir has impacted on their psychological wellbeing, self-efficacy and relationship with their pain. Up to ten patients who attend the community pain service choir within Southport and Ormskirk NHS Trust will take part in semi-structured interviews which will gather details of patients’ experiences of being part of the choir and how they feel this has impacted on their psychological wellbeing and self-efficacy. The study has potential relevance for other community pain service patients within the wider community who would benefit from attending a pain choir. It is also hoped that this research will add to the evidence-base for the use of SFBT approaches for individuals with chronic pain.
REC name
Yorkshire & The Humber - Leeds West Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
14/YH/1146
Date of REC Opinion
9 Oct 2014
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion