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Research Projects
Music Therapy Project
Music in Chronic Pain Management Among People Receiving Opioid Treatment: Exploring Uptake and Benefits Through an Intersectional Perspective
Chronic pain affects various aspects of people’s lives, from physical and emotional well-being to the ability to carry out everyday activities and participate in social life. Its management may require pharmacological treatments, including opioids, the use of which carries risks and adverse effects. In this context, listening to music has attracted interest as a non-pharmacological strategy that may complement standard pain treatment.
Although several studies have explored the effects of music on pain and mood, further understanding is needed of how people incorporate this activity into their daily lives and what benefits they perceive.
This project, led by Dr. Jennifer Grau Sánchez at EUIT Centre Universitari and funded through the Doctora Silvia Sanz Victoria Grant, builds on an established line of research into the therapeutic use of music among people living with chronic pain.
The study provides a qualitative perspective on a clinical trial funded by the National Plan on Drugs of the Spanish Ministry of Health, which evaluates the effects of personalised music listening in people with chronic pain who are receiving opioid treatment.
As part of this research, two focus groups were conducted with people who had participated in the music intervention. During these sessions, participants’ experiences before, during, and after the intervention were explored, with particular attention to their pre-existing beliefs about music and the factors that facilitated or hindered its integration into their daily routines, including family and work responsibilities.
Perceived changes in pain, mood, habits, and everyday activities were also discussed. In addition, the study explored whether participants continued listening to music after the intervention ended and the reasons that influenced their decision.
Drawing on the accounts collected, the study aims to gain a better understanding of the perceived benefits of music and how personal and social circumstances may shape these experiences. This information may help tailor interventions to the needs of people living with chronic pain.
