Beyond COVID-19: Supporting Resilience With a Trauma-informed Music Composition Program

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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This study explores the feasibility and acceptability of a music composition intervention to support resilience in survivors of serious illness hospitalized during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Detailed Description
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This study explores the feasibility and acceptability of a music composition intervention to support resilience in survivors of serious illness hospitalized during the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic introduced widespread trauma for patients facing hospitalization. Therapeutic music interventions have demonstrated positive psychological effects, but none have explored the specific trauma-informed aspects of a composition-mentor program, as well as the specific impact of music composition on resilience-related traits. Researchers implemented an adapted version of the New York Philharmonic Very Young Composers program (VYC): trained composer-mentors guide participants through four web-based sessions to elicit and develop participants' unique musical ideas into finished compositions. Participants are then invited to view a string quartet performance of their compositions. The Brief Resilience Scale [BRS] and New General Self-Efficacy Scale [NGSE] are administered pre-intervention, post-intervention, and post-performance.

Official Title
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A Trauma-Informed Music Composition Program Supporting Resilience in Individuals Hospitalized During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Conditions
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Problems Related to Life-Management Difficulty

Intervention / Treatment
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* Other: music composition


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: 18 to 60 years of age Massachusetts residents exhibiting English fluency in care with an MGB provider admitted as an inpatient for at least 3 days to an MGB hospital between March 15, 2020 and July 21, 2022 not hospitalized within the month before starting the study. Exclusion Criteria: neuropsychiatric illness impeding participation in the study including suicidality, psychosis, active substance use, and dementia

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years
Maximum Age: 60 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Prevention
Intervention Model: Single Group Assignment
Interventional Model Description: case series
Masking: None (Open Label)


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Other: enrolled participants<br>participation in 4-session music composition program with optional viewing of performance at the end | Other: music composition<br>* 4-session music composition program for participants lead by a composer-mentor, includes optional viewing of online string quartet performances of final musical scores<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| New General Self-Efficacy Scale [NGSE] | The New General Self-Efficacy (NGSE) scale evaluates one's perception of their overall ability to perform successfully in a variety of common scenarios by rating each item from 1-Strongly Disagree to 5-Strongly Agree. Responses were scored by averaging the ratings across items. Min possible score: 1 Max possible score: 5 Min study score: 3.125 Max study score: 5.00 Higher scores mean a better outcome. | Data was collected at three time points over 5 months: Pre-Intervention (Baseline: upon enrollment), Post-Intervention (after the final intervention session), and Post-performance (after the final performance). | 
| Post-musical composition program questionnaire | Four questions designed for this study elicited open-ended feedback regarding the participant experience of the program: (1) What did you enjoy about this program? (2) What did you find challenging about this program? (3) What did you learn about yourself through this program? (4) Would you recommend this program to other survivors of serious illness? | Data was collected at one time point, within one week following the final session of the music composition intervention | 
| Post-musical performance program questionnaire | Four questions designed for this study elicited open-ended feedback regarding the participant experience of listening to their music composition performed by professional musicians: (1) What was it like to hear your composition performed by professional musicians? (2) How did participating in this performance increase the impact of this program overall? (3) Does this program make you feel more confident about being able to be creative in the future? (4) Would you recommend attending the performance as part of this program to other survivors of serious illness? | Data was collected at one time point, within two weeks following the end of the music performance |