Doro, C.A., Neto, J.Z., Cunha, R., & Doro, M.P. (2017). Music therapy improves the mood of patients undergoing hematopoietic stem cells transplantation (controlled randomized study). Supportive Care in Cancer, 25, 1013–1018.

DOI Link

Study Purpose

To examine the effect of music on patients undergoing HCT with the purpose of reducing social confinement in this group of patients

Intervention Characteristics/Basic Study Process

Patients were assigned to music and control groups by a throw of dice. Live music sessions with a therapist were done in the patient’s room twice weekly for 30 minutes each. Study assessments were done at the end of music therapy sessions.

Sample Characteristics

  • N = 100   
  • AGE: Mean = 33.35 years
  • MALES: 55%  
  • FEMALES: 45%
  • CURRENT TREATMENT: Combination radiation and chemotherapy
  • KEY DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: All were undergoing HCT; most were allogeneic

Setting

  • SITE: Single site   
  • SETTING TYPE: Inpatient    
  • LOCATION: Brazil

Phase of Care and Clinical Applications

PHASE OF CARE: Active anti-tumor treatment

Study Design

RCT

Measurement Instruments/Methods

Visual analog scale (VAS) for pain and anxiety

Results

Anxiety was lower in the music group after the first (p < 0.001) and last sessions (p = 0.002). Pain was lower after the first music session in the music group but, at study completion, there was no difference between groups in pain.

Conclusions

Music may help to alleviate anxiety associated with social isolation in patients undergoing HCT.

Limitations

  • Risk of bias (no blinding)
  • Risk of bias (no appropriate attentional control condition)
  • Unintended interventions or applicable interventions not described that would influence results
  • Measurement validity/reliability questionable
  • Other limitations/explanation: Only post-measurement of symptoms, so no data regarding if symptom levels changed with music. The duration of the study was not described, so timeframe of final measurement for both groups is unclear. VAS measurement for anxiety not validated. No way to tell if baseline anxiety was clinically relevant or not, there were no baseline measures

Nursing Implications

This study showed that music therapy may be helpful for patients undergoing HCT in terms of anxiety. This study has multiple design limitations. Music therapy is a low-risk intervention; however, it does require staff time of a music therapist. Further research regarding benefit of live music therapy versus listening to music would be helpful.