Relaxation Music (RM), Mindfulness Meditation (MM) and Relaxation Techniques (RTs) in healthcare: A qualitative case study of practices in the UK and South Korea

Abstract

Relaxation Music (RM), Mindfulness Meditation (MM) and Relaxation Techniques (RTs) are widely used in healthcare contexts and these interventions have been investigated for integrated healthcare, psychotherapy treatment and collaborative and multidisciplinary approaches. However, the information exchange between healthcare practitioners in the UK and South Korea has so far been limited and cross-cultural comparisons of RM, MM and RTs within the healthcare context of the UK and Korea have previously been unexplored. The aim of this paper is to present a summary of the key aspects from an unpublished PhD study (Hwang, 2018). The focus of this paper is to explore the similarities and differences in understanding the use of RM, MM and RTs between practitioners in the UK and Korea. A qualitative case study methodology was used and data were collected through semi-structured interviews with six Korean and six UK healthcare practitioners in three professional areas: medical practice, meditation, and music therapy. Similarities (in outlooks and purposes, methods, interests and concerns, responses and approaches) and differences (in historical and traditional influences, behavioural patterns and particular emphases) were identified. The value of cross-cultural and multidisciplinary research is increasingly recognised and the use of RM, MM and RTs as mind-body-spirit interventions are considered to be useful integrated treatments. This paper contributes to cross-cultural qualitative research between South Korea and the UK and integrating theory and practice with respect to RM, MM and RTs.