Seventeenth International Conference on the Arts in Society

Abstract

Widely reported before the Covid-19 pandemic, and even more as a result of the pandemic, burnout is a common affliction among healthcare professionals. Often associated with emotional exhaustion, a decline in empathy, elevated levels of the stress hormone cortisol, and a reduction in job performance and satisfaction, burnout can lead to medical errors, higher healthcare costs, and even depression and suicide. Engaging in the arts and humanities can lessen symptoms of burnout. The Nebraska Medical Orchestra (NMO), a non-auditioned, community orchestra open to all healthcare-related musicians, was created in 2018 as a wellness initiative in partnership between the University of Nebraska Medical Center and the University of Nebraska at Omaha School of Music (USA). In a 2019 study of the NMO, respondents reported their participation had a positive impact on their sense of well-being. A more recent study from 2021 builds on the previous research investigating how participation in the Nebraska Medical Orchestra is beneficial for participant well-being. This paper 1) introduces the Nebraska Medical Orchestra and explain it as a wellness intervention, 2) outlines the past research demonstrating its positive impact on participant well-being, and 3) shares in-depth results from the most recent interview-based study suggesting how and why the orchestra successfully delivers its wellness mission. The results have implications for the creation of other arts-based wellness initiatives to improve healthcare provider wellness, thus improving the healthcare experience for all.

Presenters

Matthew Brooks
Assistant Professor/Director of Orchestral Activities in Music & Medicine, School of Music, University of Nebraska at Omaha, Nebraska, United States