A groundbreaking study conducted by researchers at the University Hospitals (UH) Connor Whole Health has revealed the promising potential of a hybrid music therapy intervention tailored for patients suffering from chronic illnesses such as heart failure and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). This innovative approach integrates both in-person and virtual music therapy sessions, aiming to address not only the physical symptoms but also the profound mental health challenges that often accompany these conditions. Published recently in the esteemed BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies, this research marks a significant step in exploring music therapy’s role in chronic disease management and hospital readmission reduction.
Patients living with heart failure and COPD contend daily with debilitating symptoms such as fatigue, breathlessness, and decreased functional capacity. These physical burdens are compounded by psychological factors including anxiety and depression, which further exacerbate their overall health status. Hospital readmissions within 30 days of discharge remain a critical challenge, contributing to patient distress and imposing financial penalties on healthcare facilities. Against this backdrop, novel interventions that can enhance both mental and physical wellbeing are urgently needed.
The research team embarked on a two-year project entitled Music Therapy to Address patient’s JOuRneys with CHronic illness, Outcome, and ReaDmission (MAJOR CHORD) to fill an evident gap in existing knowledge. Despite music therapy’s well-documented immediate effects on symptom relief during hospital stays, its long-term impact on patient health and hospital readmissions remains underexplored. MAJOR CHORD was designed to investigate the feasibility, fidelity, and acceptability of a hybrid intervention that could extend therapeutic benefits beyond hospitalization.
Supported by the Kulas Foundation, a leading funder in music therapy research, the MAJOR CHORD pilot study pioneers the delivery of both face-to-face and remote music therapy sessions specifically targeting this vulnerable population. Past funding initiatives by the Kulas Foundation have propelled research demonstrating music therapy’s efficacy in various contexts, including palliative care, surgical recovery, sickle cell disease, and pain management. This new focus on chronic respiratory and cardiovascular diseases underscores the versatility of music therapy as a clinical tool.
The pilot aimed to establish foundational evidence on whether such a hybrid model could be reliably implemented and whether patients would engage with the intervention consistently. Critical to this goal was ensuring sessions adhered closely to a rigorously developed protocol and that patients completed standardized surveys measuring stress, quality of life, and self-efficacy at multiple time points. Maintaining intervention fidelity was achieved via detailed checklists reviewed by the clinical team, ensuring therapeutic consistency was upheld throughout the study.
Participants were recruited from UH Cleveland Medical Center during their inpatient admission for heart failure or COPD exacerbations. They initially received two individualized, bedside music therapy sessions conducted by board-certified music therapists. Upon discharge, participants transitioned to two virtual sessions in their home environment, facilitating continuity of care while minimizing logistical barriers. This hybrid design sought to maximize accessibility and engagement, leveraging technology to extend therapeutic reach.
Patient-reported outcomes were collected at baseline, 15 days, and 30 days post-discharge, capturing the evolving impact of music therapy throughout hospitalization and recovery. A subset of participants also engaged in semi-structured interviews to provide qualitative insights into the intervention experience. These rich narratives highlighted the importance of the therapeutic relationship, the challenge of maintaining engagement post-discharge, and the positive mental health effects attributed to the sessions.
Results from the pilot were encouraging yet highlighted several operational challenges. Of the 113 patients approached, 20 were successfully enrolled in the study, with an 85% retention rate indicating strong participant commitment. Attendance to sessions stood at 57.5%, markedly higher for in-person sessions (75%) compared to virtual ones (40%), pointing to technological and engagement barriers in remote care delivery. Nevertheless, protocol adherence surpassed 80%, meeting high fidelity standards and underscoring feasibility.
Key obstacles identified included difficulties in post-discharge participant communication, technological challenges in accessing virtual sessions, and frequent rescheduling needs. Addressing these issues, the research team has since adopted several innovative strategies, including secure text messaging to improve communication, providing technical assistance for video platform navigation, and increasing direct contact frequency after hospital discharge. These adaptations aim to enhance patient engagement and data completeness in subsequent randomized controlled trials.
Importantly, mental health benefits emerged as a significant theme from qualitative analyses. Participants expressed that the music therapy sessions fostered a therapeutic alliance that supported emotional wellbeing during a vulnerable period. The intervention appeared to alleviate symptoms of anxiety and depression, offering a non-pharmacological avenue to bolster mental resilience in chronic illness management. This aligns with broader scientific recognition of psychosocial interventions as pivotal components of holistic patient care.
The forthcoming randomized controlled trial currently underway seeks to rigorously compare hybrid music therapy with usual care, assessing outcomes such as quality of life and hospital readmission rates. By building upon the pilot’s successes and addressing its limitations, this trial aspires to produce definitive evidence that could transform integrative care practices for chronic illness patients. The hybrid model’s potential scalability adds to its appeal as a sustainable clinical strategy.
This study’s significance extends beyond its immediate clinical implications; it highlights the evolving role of personalized, patient-centered interventions in modern healthcare. Music therapy, long relegated to adjunct or complementary status, is being systematically evaluated with scientific rigor to substantiate its health impacts. As healthcare systems grapple with rising chronic disease burdens, therapies that enhance patient experience and reduce system strain are invaluable.
Dr. Samuel Rodgers-Melnick, Principal Investigator at UH Connor Whole Health, emphasized the study’s pioneering nature: “This roadmap demonstrates that delivering music therapy consistently across in-person and virtual settings is not only feasible but also meaningful to patients. Our work paves the way to explore how sustained music therapy exposure can mitigate costly hospital readmissions.” Similarly, Dr. Kristi Artz, Vice President of Connor Whole Health, noted the intervention’s promise while acknowledging the need for refinement in virtual engagement post-discharge.
In conclusion, the MAJOR CHORD pilot study illuminates a promising path for hybrid music therapy interventions in chronic disease contexts, demonstrating feasibility, acceptability, and potential mental health benefits. By bridging the inpatient and outpatient care continuum through innovative therapy delivery, this research exemplifies how multidisciplinary approaches can enhance patient outcomes and healthcare efficiency. Future rigorous trials will be crucial to validate these findings and potentially reshape standards of care for patients with heart failure and COPD.
Subject of Research: Hybrid Music Therapy Intervention for Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease and Heart Failure
Article Title: Refining a Hybrid Music Therapy Intervention for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease and Heart Failure: A Single Arm Pilot Study
News Publication Date: Not explicitly provided; assumed early 2025 based on article citation.
Web References:
- University Hospitals Connor Whole Health: http://www.uhhospitals.org/ConnorWholeHealth
- BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies article: https://bmccomplementmedtherapies.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12906-025-04887-x
References:
Yu H, Foss A, Segall TL, Block S, Risser K, Razzak R, Zacharias M, Teba CV, Rodgers-Melnick SN. Refining a hybrid music therapy intervention for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and heart failure: a single arm pilot study. BMC Complement Med Ther. 2025;25(1):139. doi: 10.1186/s12906-025-04887-x.
Image Credits: University Hospitals
Keywords: Music, Disease intervention, Medical research facilities, Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, Scientific data
