Evaluating music therapy services in children's hospices
Citation
Tsiris, G. & McLachlan, J. (2019) Evaluating music therapy services in children's hospices. In: Ludwig, A. (ed.) Music therapy in children and young people's palliative care. London: Jessica Kingsley Publishers, pp. 67-85.
Abstract
Service evaluation is an increasingly important aspect of music
therapists’ work. The current knowledge base around the meanings
and methods of service evaluation, however, is still in its early
developments in the field, and a lack of publications is observed
regarding the ‘nuts and bolts’ of implementing evaluations within
particular contexts of music therapy practice. Responding to this
situation, this chapter focuses on service evaluation within children’s
hospices. We first introduce some terminology and underlying
areas associated with service evaluation. After considering various
literature and practice-based perspectives from palliative care, we
present a case example of a service evaluation that we conducted
in a children’s hospice. We then reflect on various practical,
methodological and ethical aspects of evaluating music therapy
services within children’s hospices. We hope this chapter will equip
practitioners and organisations with an initial understanding of
service evaluation and, more importantly, encourage them to ‘give
it a go’.