Active Music Engagement

Active Music Engagement (AME) is a theoretically grounded music therapy intervention developed for young children (ages 3-8 years of age) and their parents. The program uses interactive music-play to counteract stressful qualities of pediatric cancer treatment and reduce the interrelated distress experienced by young children and their parents.

AME involves both the parent and child, with sessions delivered by a credentialed music therapist. Therapists use collaborative decision-making and tailor the music-play experience to meet the in-the-moment needs of the parent and child. Music-play kits and educational materials also encourage independent use of music-play to manage stressful experiences beyond therapist-led sessions.

Principal Investigator: Sheri L. Robb, PhD, MT-BC

Funding: Biologic Mechanisms and Dosing of Active Music Engagement in Children with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia and Lymphoma and Parents (NR019190, Robb, PI; 2019-2025). 

This study is designed to examine biological mechanisms of effect and dose-response relationships of AME on child/parent stress during the consolidation phase of Acute B- or T-cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) and T-cell Lymphoblastic Lymphoma (TLyLy) treatment. This study builds on our prior work (aka, The PINPOINT Trial) that examined psychosocial mechanisms of action underlying the AME intervention.

Principal Investigator: Natasha Thomas, PhD, MT-BC

Funding: This project is funded by Dr. Robb’s Walther Supportive Oncology Professorship 

To ensure cultural relevance of the Active Music Engagement program for Black children and parents, and to explore its potential utility for use during Sickle Cell Disease treatment, we are conducting a three-phase qualitative study to inform revisions to the AME protocol. The study will include: (1) parent interviews about their uses of music at home, with their child, and their perspectives on uses of music to manage pain and distress; (2) parents will be invited to experience AME with their child and offer guidance to improve program content; and (3) a Black Music Therapist Advisory Board will review AME program content and findings from Phase 1/II parent interviews, then offer recommendations to refine AME.

Principal Investigator: K. Maya Story, PhD

Funding: This project is funded by Dr. Robb’s Walther Supportive Oncology Professorship.

Pre-implementation interviews at facilities can provide important contextual factors prior to broader implementation of an intervention. Active Music Engagement (AME), has been implemented in several clinical trials with young children (ages 3-8 years) and parents during cancer treatment. Prior to implementation of AME on a broader scale, we are conducting a qualitative study to gather information from stakeholders involved in previous clinical trials of AME to identify facilitators and barriers to successful implementation.

Principal Investigator: Elizabeth Harman, PhD, MT-BC

Funding: This project is funded through Dr. Harman’s T32 Postdoctoral Fellowship (T32CA117865)

Despite numerous studies describing the high symptom distress experienced by pediatric patients during stem cell transplant and the known stress on their parents, there is a lack of empirical studies and supportive interventions for them. Before new interventions can be developed and tested, it is critical to understand the lived experience and needs of IYC undergoing stem cell transplant and their parents. This study is focused on the parent and aims to explore and understand how the stem cell transplant experience impacts parents of infants and young children (3 years of age under) so we may better design interventions to support them.

Principal Investigators: Steven J. Holochwost, PhD and Kristin A. Russ, PhD

Funding: IU School of Nursing Center for Enhancing Quality of Life (CEQL), the IU Simon Cancer Center P30 Support Grant (P30CA082709), and the IU School of Nursing Class of 1964 Pilot Research Fund.

The primary aim of this study was to determine feasibility/acceptability of the AME intervention protocol and collection of salivary cortisol from young children/parents in the context of hematopoietic stem cell transplant. Secondary aims were to examine parents’ perceptions of AME benefit and whether there were changes in child and parent cortisol levels relative to the AME intervention.

Principal Investigator: Sheri L. Robb, PhD, MT-BC

Funding: Mechanisms of Active Music Engagement to Improve Health Outcomes of Children with Cancer and Parents (NR015789, Robb, PI)

This study was designed to identify behavioral, sociological, and psychological variables contributing to positive outcomes observed in previous Active Music Engagement studies (i.e., mediators) and identify for whom the intervention works (i.e., moderators).