Sound Origins Acceptability Study

  • Research type

    Research Study

  • Full title

    Sound Origins: Assessment of the acceptability and accessibility of a co-designed music therapy intervention

  • IRAS ID

    355379

  • Contact name

    Glenn Robert

  • Contact email

    glenn.robert@kcl.ac.uk

  • Sponsor organisation

    Kings College London

  • Duration of Study in the UK

    0 years, 9 months, 30 days

  • Research summary

    Having a baby admitted to neonatal intensive care can have a negative impact on parental mental health with even short stays resulting in parents experiencing symptoms of PTSD. Additionally it is recognised that neonatal staff are at high risk of burnout due to secondary trauma and stress.
    Music is something which is drawn upon world wide to promote wellbeing and for interacting with babies. Music therapy research on the NICU currently demonstrates positive physiological outcomes for babies however those considered medically high risk are often excluded. This has resulted in the accessibility of music therapy for parents with infants with uncertain futures being unknown.
    Recent research has reported that a large proportion of the neonatal population would benefit from palliative support demonstrating a need for these families to be included in future studies. Additionally, there is currently no standardised practice for music therapy on the NICU in the UK.

    Therefore, this study will assess the accessibility and acceptability of co-designed music therapy intervention for parents with infants with uncertain futures and neonatal staff on the neonatal unit at University College London Hospital. It will aim to test the intervention with 12 parents of 12 infants and promote the sharing of music between staff members.

  • REC name

    North East - Newcastle & North Tyneside 1 Research Ethics Committee

  • REC reference

    25/NE/0118

  • Date of REC Opinion

    20 Jun 2025

  • REC opinion

    Favourable Opinion