Introduction: Coping with cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a lifelong journey through many changes. Despite the chronic nature of CVD, there is limited evidence on how people with CVD use music strategically for their health over time. As needs and circumstances evolve, providing some music interventions or playlists may only help until some point. Thus, we developed the Empowering Sustainable Therapeutic Engagement with Music (ESTEEM) program. This music therapy program focused on building participant capacity and resources to use music for their health independently and sustainably in their ever-changing lives. This pilot mixed methods randomized controlled trial aimed to investigate ESTEEM program feasibility, estimates of effect, and participant experiences.

Methods: Following ethics approval and trial registration, 24 consenting adult cardiac rehabilitation participants were randomized into either the ESTEEM group or a waitlist control (WLC) group. The ESTEEM group received four fortnightly group music therapy sessions and standard care, while the WLC group received standard care alone. We collected feasibility data including recruitment, retention, adherence, safety, instrument appropriateness, acceptability, and challenges. Estimates of effect were measured using the DASS-21. Participant experiences were explored using semi-structured interviews and diaries. Quantitative and qualitative data were analysed and integrated using a convergent core design.

Results: Integrated results showed the ESTEEM program was feasible to implement with potential benefits on anxiety and stress reduction. Qualitative findings revealed additional health benefits, insights on how participants independently and sustainably used music for their health, and influencing factors including the role of the music therapist.

Discussion/Conclusion: Our findings will be discussed alongside the current global evidence across disciplines. The unique roles, knowledge, and practice of music therapists, and their impact will be highlighted. We will discuss implications from our findings so that the audience may apply them in their music therapy practice and future research, bringing a lasting impact.