Meaningful Music in Maternal Healthcare v1.1
Research type
Research Study
Full title
ProMiMiC: Professional Excellence in Meaningful Music in Healthcare
IRAS ID
277222
Contact name
Rosie Perkins
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Royal College of Music
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 10 months, 4 days
Research summary
This is a qualitative study researching how musicians can employ effective personalised live music for patients in the hospital maternity context. The music-making practice is based on Meaningful Music in Health Care (MiMiC), an innovative, artistic practice developed by Hanzehogeschool Groningen and the University Medical Center Groningen in which musicians make 'tailor-made' music for and with patients and health professionals in hospital wards. MiMiC aims to open up meaningful communication between patients, health professionals and musicians in the often stressful, clinical hospital environment. The specially trained musicians create personalised live music for the participants. This means that they gear their music towards the patient(s), for example by using existing repertoire and in-the-moment improvisation. MiMiC has been shown to have a positive effect on patients through measurements of experienced pain, stress, anxiety and general well-being.
The current study aims to implement the MiMiC practice on the antenatal maternity ward at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, in collaboration with CW+, Chelsea and Westminster Hospital’s Charity. Musicians working in small teams will provide personalised live music on the ward on 18 occasions over the course of 2020 and 2021, with all patients on the ward invited to participate subject to eligibility. The music-making will be observed by a researcher and patients will be invited to respond to interview questions immediately after they have received music. Musicians will complete reflective journals documenting their experience of delivering the music and will be invited to in-depth interview(s).
As part of a larger European project, this study aims to contribute to establishing the MiMiC practice as suitable for widespread implementation in hospital care, contributing to developments such as person-centred care, positive health, and increased employability of musicians in social contexts.
REC name
East Midlands - Derby Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
20/EM/0037
Date of REC Opinion
5 Feb 2020
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion