Sound Origins Acceptability Study

Launched by KING'S COLLEGE LONDON · Jun 13, 2025

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

The Sound Origins Acceptability Study is examining how well a special music therapy program works for parents of babies in the neonatal unit and for the nursing staff who support them. The study aims to find out if parents find the music therapy helpful, how easy it is to participate, and whether the musical gifts created for the babies and families can be made within a week. Parents will have access to playlists designed by other parents, a journal to guide them in using music for self-reflection, and the chance to receive personalized music messages from family and friends. Nurses will also have the opportunity to share their favorite music playlists and wear badges that let parents know they are available to talk about music.

To join this study, parents must be at least 18 years old and have an infant diagnosed with a serious health condition. Healthcare professionals, like nurses, who work directly with these families are also welcome to participate. Participation involves using music as a way to connect with their babies or find comfort during a challenging time. This study has not started recruiting participants yet, but it aims to provide valuable insights into how music can support families during difficult moments in the neonatal unit.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• Parent inclusion criteria:
• • 1. 18+ years
• • 2. Has an infant diagnosed with a condition meeting the infant inclusion criteria on admission to the unit (see below)
• • 3. Can give informed consent
• Healthcare professional inclusion criteria:
• • 1. Nursing professional working with or providing support to parents with infants diagnosed with a life limiting condition involved in the study
• • 2. Part time, full time on UCLH neonatal unit
• • 3. Any grade
• • Infant inclusion
• In accordance with Together for short lives neonatal palliative care guidelines any parent who has an infant meeting the following criteria whilst on the neonatal unit will be eligible for the intervention:
• • Category 1: Life-threatening conditions for which curative treatment may be feasible but can fail Provision of palliative care services may be necessary when treatment fails or during an acute crisis, irrespective of the duration of threat to life. On reaching long-term remission or following successful curative treatment there is no longer a need for palliative care services. Examples: extreme prematurity, severe necrotising enterocolitis, congenital heart disease.
• • Category 2 Conditions where premature death is inevitable. There may be long periods of intensive treatment aimed at prolonging life and allowing participation in normal activities. Example: chromosomal abnormality, severe spina bifida, bilateral multi-cystic dysplastic kidneys, bilateral renal agenesis.
• • Category 3 Progressive conditions without curative treatment options Treatment is exclusively palliative and may commonly extend over many years. Example: skeletal dysplasia, severe neuromuscular disorders.
• • Category 4 Irreversible but non-progressive conditions causing severe disability, leading to susceptibility to health complications and likelihood of premature death. Example: severe hypoxic ischaemic encephalopathy.
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • Parent exclusion criteria
• • 1. \<18+ years
• • 2. Acute mental health diagnosis e.g schizophrenia, psychosis
• • 3. Substance abuse
• • 4. Does not have an infant meeting inclusion criteria
• • 5. Unable to provide consent
• • Healthcare professional exclusion criteria
• • 1. not working with or providing support to parents with infants diagnosed with a life limiting condition
• • 2. agency staff