[The Role and Function of Music Therapy in Child-Friendly Healthcare].

ABSTRACT

Child-friendly healthcare relates to the development and application by professionals of integrated methods specifically for children in any healthcare activity context. Music therapy is one of these methods. Three roles (noise masker, emotional adjustment, and cognitive learning) and two functions (activity participation and non-verbal expression and decision making) of child-friendly-healthcare-related music therapy are presented in this article. Also, suggestions and insights regarding how to optimize the effectiveness of music therapy in the context of pediatric healthcare are provided.