Clinical trial · Interventional
Mechanisms of Active Music Engagement to Improve Health Outcomes of Children With Cancer and Parents
NCT03085927CI-TRIAL-00055005PINPOINTcompletedN/AResults postedClinicalTrials.gov clinicaltrialsProvenance
- Source
- ClinicalTrials.gov
- Retrieved
- Sep 8, 2026
- Layer
- normalized (units and labels harmonized; values unchanged)
- Run
- ING-CLINICALTRIALS-20260908-000001
Summary
Brief summary (as posted)
Music therapy, a frequently used arts-based therapy, has become standard palliative care in many pediatric and adult hospitals; however, few studies have examined the mechanisms by which music therapy interventions work. This study investigates behavioral, social, and psychological factors that may explain how an Active Music Engagement (AME) intervention (i.e., an interactive, music-based play intervention) works to manage emotional distress and improve positive health outcomes in parents and young children with cancer during treatment. Findings will provide scientific and clinically relevant practice knowledge to guide delivery of music therapy as a complementary therapy.
Conditions
Conditions (1)
Free-text conditions as registered, with the CancerIndex entity they were reconciled to and the match type.
| Condition (as posted) | Mapped entity | Match | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cancer | Malignant Neoplasm | ALIAS | 0.90 |
Interventions
Interventions (2)
| Intervention | Type | Mapped drug | Match |
|---|---|---|---|
| Active Music Engagement | Behavioral | — | UNRESOLVED |
| Audio Storybooks | Behavioral | — | UNRESOLVED |
Design
Arms and outcomes
Arms (2)
- type
- EXPERIMENTAL
- label
- Arm 1-Active Music Engagement
- description
- Three 45-minute sessions with a board-certified music therapist delivered over three days. Sessions are delivered in a private setting during in-patient hospitalization. During the first visit, parent and child will receive information on common responses of young children to cancer treatment and how parents can use music play activities to support their child during treatment. The music therapist will lead parent and child in a variety of music play activities. Parent and child will receive a music kit that includes items such as hand-held rhythm instruments, puppets, and a music CD. During the second and third visit the music therapist will lead parent and child child through the music play activities, answer questions, and make suggestions for using these activities in the hospital and at home.
- interventionNames
- Behavioral: Active Music Engagement
- type
- EXPERIMENTAL
- label
- Arm II- Audio-Storybooks
- description
- Three 45-minute sessions with a board-certified music therapist delivered over three days. Sessions are delivered in a private setting during in-patient hospitalization. Each session children/parents will choose and listen to one of three illustrated children's books with audio recorded narration.
Eligibility
Eligibility (as posted)
- Sex
- All
- Minimum age
- 3 Years
- Maximum age
- 8 Years
Show eligibility criteria text
Inclusion Criteria (Child/Parent): * Children ages 3-8 years inclusive. * Expected treatment course for at least 3 days to receive chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy. * A consistent parent who can be present for all sessions. Exclusion Criteria (Child/Parent): * Child and/or parent do not speak English. * Child has a significant cognitive impairment that hinders participation (based on physician judgment).
References
Publications (4)
- BACKGROUNDRobb SL, Clair AA, Watanabe M, Monahan PO, Azzouz F, Stouffer JW, Ebberts A, Darsie E, Whitmer C, Walker J, Nelson K, Hanson-Abromeit D, Lane D, Hannan A. A non-randomized [corrected] controlled trial of the active music engagement (AME) intervention on children with cancer. Psychooncology. 2008 Jul;17(7):699-708. doi: 10.1002/pon.1301. PMID 18033724
- BACKGROUNDRobb SL, Haase JE, Perkins SM, Haut PR, Henley AK, Knafl KA, Tong Y. Pilot Randomized Trial of Active Music Engagement Intervention Parent Delivery for Young Children With Cancer. J Pediatr Psychol. 2017 Mar 1;42(2):208-219. doi: 10.1093/jpepsy/jsw050. PMID 27289068
- BACKGROUNDRobb SL. The effect of therapeutic music interventions on the behavior of hospitalized children in isolation: developing a contextual support model of music therapy. J Music Ther. 2000 Summer;37(2):118-46. doi: 10.1093/jmt/37.2.118. PMID 10932125
- DERIVEDRobb SL, Stegenga K, Perkins SM, Stump TE, Moody KM, Henley AK, MacLean J, Jacob SA, Delgado D, Haut PR. Mediators and Moderators of Active Music Engagement to Reduce Traumatic Stress Symptoms and Improve Well-being in Parents of Young Children With Cancer. Integr Cancer Ther. 2023 Jan-Dec;22:15347354231218266. doi: 10.1177/15347354231218266. PMID 38145309