MUSic therapy In Complex Specialist neurorehabilitation version 1.0
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Pilot study to evaluate MUSic therapy in Complex Specialist neurorehabilitation
IRAS ID
300036
Contact name
S Ajina
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University College London
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
UCL Data Protection Registration Number, Z6364106/2022/06/83 health research
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 0 months, 0 days
Research summary
Aim: Do patients undergoing specialist rehabilitation after complex neurological injury show different functional outcomes if music therapy is included in their rehabilitation program compared to usual care?
Background: Specialist neurorehabilitation is for patients with complex needs following a brain, spinal cord, and/or peripheral nerve injury, impacting one’s ability to function independently. It involves multiple therapy disciplines, led by a Consultant in Rehabilitation Medicine, Neurology, or Neuropsychiatry. Although music therapy is suggested to enhance neuroplasticity and recovery in patients with brain injury, it is not routinely commissioned in clinical care due to a lack of supportive data.
Number of participants: 75 in the Neurorehabilitation Unit at UCLH, aged 16-80 years.
Methods: Patients undergo baseline assessments and are randomised to MUSIC or CONTROL Therapy. Both arms receive 1-3 additional therapy sessions per week, matched for duration and number, total 15 hours. After approximately 10-weeks intervention, assessments are repeated. All participants then have access to music therapy until they are discharged from NRU, with additional qualitative data collection using semi-structured interviews, field notes, staff reports, staff stress surveys, and broader ecological observations.
Duration for Participants: From consent to discharge from Neurorehabilitation Unit.
Primary Outcome: Change in Functional Independence Measure/Functional Assessment Measure, Northwick Park Dependency Scale, and Barthel Activities of Daily Living pre and post 15 hours intervention.
Secondary Outcome: Change in quality of life (Flourishing Scale), psychological distress (Hospital Anxiety and Depressions Scale, Depression Intensity Scale Circles), social interaction (Sickness Impact Profile Social Interaction Subscale), well-being (WHO Well-Being Index), and communication (Communication Outcomes After Stroke Scale), pre and post 15 hours intervention. Change in pain and mood visual analogue scales pre-and post-sessions.
In addition, a shorter-term qualitative substudy will explore how people on the NRU engage with and experience music therapy, informed by recordings of music therapy sessions, interviews with patients, visitors and staff, field notes, clinical notes and staff reports.REC name
London - Bromley Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
22/LO/0879
Date of REC Opinion
5 Jan 2023
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion