Music Therapy: Interdisciplinary Medical Communication Integrating the Musical Arts DOI:

Abstract

This academic article aims to review the literature on music therapy across various dimensions, covering its history, significance, and the current situation in Thailand, as well as relevant communication theories and research. The purpose is to propose future research directions for music therapy, an interdisciplinary field that integrates medical communication science with the musical arts. This integration benefits patient rehabilitation and positively impacts various levels of medical services, extending beyond healthcare facilities to involve all sectors of society, including government organizations and academic institutions.

The article explores the definition and key components of music therapy, the integration of music with medical communication, patient populations who benefit, therapeutic approaches, the role of the music therapist, and examples of relevant research. Furthermore, the study proposes the Stimulus-Response (S-R) Theory and the SMCRE communication model as conceptual frameworks for research into this art of medical communication. From a communication perspective, the goal is to investigate how music therapists, as senders, utilize messages and media to stimulate patients, thereby eliciting significant positive therapeutic responses across various conditions. Based on empirical evidence, the article concludes by suggesting how government organizations should formulate policies to promote the future development of this interdisciplinary field.