Conventional and Algorithmic Music Listening before Radiotherapy Treatment: A Randomized Controlled Pilot Study

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Psychology
• Music Therapy

Background:

• Music listening is a common music therapy intervention.
• Radiotherapy can induce significant anxiety and stress in cancer patients.
• The impact of different music listening approaches on patient-reported outcomes during radiotherapy requires further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the effects of algorithmically generated music and individualized music playlists on anxiety and stress levels in breast cancer patients undergoing radiotherapy.
• To compare the efficacy of two distinct music listening interventions against a control group.
• To assess changes in State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) and Psychological Distress Inventory (PDI) scores.

Main Methods:

• Sixty breast cancer patients undergoing radiotherapy were randomly assigned to three groups: Melomics-Health (algorithmic music), Individualized Music Listening (IML), and a no-music control group.
• Music interventions were administered for 15 minutes before simulation and during the first five radiotherapy sessions.
• Anxiety and distress were measured using the STAI and PDI before and after the intervention period, with statistical analysis using Cochran's Q and McNemar tests.

Main Results:

• The Melomics-Health group demonstrated improvements in both STAI and PDI scores.
• The IML group showed initial worsening in STAI at T1, followed by improvement in STAI-Trait at T2, but also worsened in PDI at T2.
• The no-music control group generally showed improvements in STAI and PDI, suggesting a potential placebo or natural recovery effect.

Conclusions:

• Algorithmically generated music (Melomics-Health) appears beneficial for reducing anxiety and distress in breast cancer patients during radiotherapy.
• Individualized music listening (IML) yielded complex and less consistently positive results, warranting further study.
• The findings suggest that the specific characteristics of music interventions may influence their effectiveness in managing psychological distress during cancer treatment, opening avenues for future research in music therapy.