Research and clinical studies

More than 20 years of development and the study of results from research with this music form the foundation for the creation of MusiCure, and the music is used today in a wide variety of different types of treatment and research projects in many countries. Since 2003, independent researchers and professional therapists from several countries have conducted medical studies with MusiCure. The results of these studies and controlled trials are today published in several international medical journals, including: Heart & Lung - The Journal of Acute and Critical Care , European journal of Cardiovascular Nursing, Intensive and Critical Care Nursing, Pediatric Anesthesia etc.
Examples of published research include studies with MusiCure for heart surgery patients at Örebro University Hospital, Sweden, where physiological measurements also showed significant fluctuations in hormone balance, with reduction of stress hormone and increased production of oxytocin in the 'music group' patients, compared to the 'control group'. Also from Sweden, studies with children in day surgery have shown a great reduction in use of morphine for the children who listened to the music. Research in the United States has also shown decreased feelings of anxiety in patients who underwent cardiogram studies and listened to music during the procedure - to mention just a few selected examples.

REFERENCES

The research in the effect of the MusiCure music is mainly performed with both ‘music groups’ and ‘control groups’ and include both quantitative and qualitative studies, subjective questionnaires and interviews, as well as purely physiological measurements on the patients.

Internationally published articles describing research with MusiCure
Review and other articles:
  • Music as an aid for postoperative recovery in adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis – a review article, by Jenny Hole, Martin Hirsch, Elizabeth Ball and Catherine Meads. Published August 13. 2015 in The Lancet (with reference to 5 studies using MusiCure by Niels Eje). 
  • The Effects of Perioperative Music Interventions in Pediatric Surgery – by Marianne J. E. van der Heijden, Sadaf Oliai Araghi, Monique van Dijk, Johannes Jeekel and M. G. Myriam Hunink. Published August at PLOS ONE (2015) (with reference to the study: School-aged children’s experiences of postoperative music medicine on pain, distress, and anxiety, by Stefan Nilsson et al.)
  • Articles published in Nordic Journals and by Musica Humana Research, and Bachelor projects:
  • Treatment with MusiCure of psychiatric patients suffering from anxiety – a pilot study. Author and project coordinator: Torben Egelund Soerensen, Candidate in Music therapy, Psychiatric Department, Horsens Hospital, Denmark. Supervisor: Joergen Tybjerg, MD, Consultant Psychiatrist, Psychiatric Department, Horsens Hospital, Denmark. Published in Psykiatrien – Årsskrift 4 (2005)
  • Designed sound environment for heart patients before and after invasive procedures. Author and study leader: Bitten Gøtzsche, Ward Nurse, Cardiac Laboratory, Department of Cardiology, Aalborg University Hospital, Denmark. Published 2010 
  • Can music improve patients’ mental wellbeing perioperatively? By Marianne Jungersen, Surgical Nurse, Day surgery Department R, Ullevaal University Hospital, Norway Published in the Norwegian nurse sheet “Overview” 2006, and at Musica Humana Research 
  •  Music intervention among children with autism spectrum disorder and sleeping difficulties. By Susan Gulstad, Education Consultant, Egebakken – school for children with autism, Denmark Aalborg University Hospital. Published 2006 
  • Music for patients in intensive care and recovery wards at Odense University Hospital Music therapy during the recovery process after major surgical procedures. By Vibeke Hansen, Specialist nurse at VITA, Odense University Hospital and Anni Nørregaard, Clinical nurse teacher, ICU V, Odense University Hospital. Published by Musica Humana 2004 
  • Summary of project Ataraxia. By PhD student, music therapist, teacher Karin Schou. A project at Aalborg University Hospital, Aalborg, Denmark, describing the effect of music on pain, nausea, well being and anxiety in a post anaesthetic care unit. Number of patients: 200 - Published November 2003 by Musica Humana 
  • Music reduces anxiety and discomfort during dialysis treatment. By Hanne Agnholt, clinical nurse, and nurses Birthe Gross, Inger Bjerre Rosa, Fantahun Wassie Ketema, and Birgitte Schantz Laursen, senior researcher. Published in journal ‘Dialäsen’ (2011) 
  • Reduction of anxiety in heart patients using existential psychology & music medicine, Bachelor student project at the Danish Nursing school, by Morten Thomas Guldager. Published 2010 
  • Musikkens muligheder (music options) – a bachelor project about the use of music for children with cancer, by Rose Marie Majlund Kent, Department of Arts and Cultural Studies at Copenhagen University. Published 2013
  • Musikpuden (The music pillow) – en kvalitativ undersøgelse af depressive patienters oplevelse af velvære (a bachelor project about treatment with MusiCure music and MusiCure Pillow to patients suffering from depression). by Paula M. Ihlen, Amalie Vincensen, Zenia Hansen og Camilla E. Hess – University College Sjælland – Campus Næstved 2016 
  • Neurosurgicel Intensive Care patients and the effect of music therapy (Neurokirurgisk intensive patienters effekt af terapeutisk brug af musik). Et bachelorprojekt fra 2007 af Søren Ebdrup, (in Danish). 
  • Our Musical Brain. By Lars Heslet, Professor, Dr. Med. Head of Intensive Care Section 4131, Danish State Hospital, Published by Musica Humana November 2003 
  • Medicine and Music - The use of specially designed music in Intensive Care Section 4131, Copenhagen University Hospital, Denmark By Lars Heslet Professor, Dr. Med. Head of ICU 4131, Rigshospitalet, Published by Musica Humana June 2003