Music as a Caretool in Palliative Care : A Study of the Effects of Music on Patients in Palliative Care and in the End of Life

This study investigates the role of music as a therapeutic tool in palliative care in Sweden by focusing on how music can contribute to managing symptoms for patients, especially patients in the final stages of life. Data were collected via a focus group interview with nursing assistants at a palliative care unit at a hospital in Falun by using a qualitative research design complemented by document analysis of neuroscientific research, national statistics and clinical reports. The results show that music is used spontaneously in daily care and not via routines by the facility and is perceived to promote calmness, comfort, reduced anxiety, and in some cases even pain relief; particularly when pharmacological treatments are insufficient. The participants' experiences align with previous research indicating that music influences the brain’s stress, reward and affect regulation systems. However, the absence of routines, resources, and organizational support limits the systematic use of music in palliative care, which has an effect on how music is used in all palliative care facilities in Sweden. The study concludes that music holds strong potential as a person-centered and affect-regulating care tool in palliative care, yet its implementation requires further research.