Integrating Harp Music into Mechanical Ventilation Care in the ICU A Transdisciplinary Conceptual Framework for Non-Pharmacological Respiratory Support

Abstract

This working paper proposes a transdisciplinary, non-pharmacological framework for integrating live harp music into respiratory care for mechanically ventilated patients in intensive care units (ICUs). Drawing upon existing international literature in critical care medicine, music-based interventions, and respiratory physiology, the paper outlines a conceptual model in which musical tempo, dynamics, and harmonic density are intentionally aligned with patients’ respiratory rhythms to support comfort, anxiety reduction, and perceived respiratory ease.

This publication does not report patient-level data and does not constitute a clinical trial or clinical intervention. Instead, it presents a structured conceptual framework, including intervention logic, workflow design, ethical safeguards, and recommended outcome measures, intended to inform future IRB-approved clinical research and interdisciplinary collaboration. By disseminating this framework through Zenodo as an open-access working paper, the author aims to support transparent knowledge sharing and international dialogue across critical care, respiratory therapy, and arts-based health research communities.