Music therapy to improve quality of life for adults with sickle cell disease
MULTIsite feasibility of MUSIc therapy to address Quality Of Life in Sickle cell disease (MULTI-MUSIQOLS)
A structured music therapy program aims to help adults with sickle cell disease reduce pain flares, ease anxiety, and improve daily quality of life.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California-Irvine NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Irvine, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11196781 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you join, you'll be offered a manualized music therapy program delivered across multiple sites that builds on a prior 6-session approach. Participants will be enrolled at participating centers and randomized to receive the music therapy or a waitlist/control approach, with sessions delivered in the format the study uses (in-person or remote). The study will collect electronic patient-reported outcomes on pain, mood, self-efficacy, and health-related quality of life and will track attendance and other feasibility measures. The goal is to refine procedures so the program can be scaled up for a larger, pragmatic trial.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults (21 years and older) living with sickle cell disease who experience recurrent acute pain crises or chronic pain would be the ideal candidates.
Not a fit: People under 21, those without ongoing sickle cell–related pain, or those unable to participate in music sessions (for example, due to severe hearing impairment) may not benefit from this program.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could provide a non-drug option to help adults with sickle cell disease manage pain, reduce anxiety, and improve day-to-day well-being.
How similar studies have performed: A prior single-site pilot randomized trial with 24 adults showed high attendance and improvements in self-efficacy and quality of life, but multi-site effectiveness has not yet been demonstrated.
Where this research is happening
Irvine, United States
- University of California-Irvine — Irvine, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Dusek, Jeffery a — University of California-Irvine
- Study coordinator: Dusek, Jeffery a
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.