The effects of music therapy on peripherally inserted central catheter in hospitalized children with leukemia

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Oncology
• Integrative Medicine
• Pain Management

Background:

• Peripherally inserted central catheters (PICCs) are essential for leukemia treatment in children.
• PICC placement can cause significant pain, anxiety, and prolonged procedure times.
• Exploring non-pharmacological interventions like music therapy is crucial for improving patient care.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of music therapy in pediatric patients undergoing PICC placement.
• To compare the effects of music therapy versus standard care on procedure time, sedative use, pain, and emotional state.

Main Methods:

• A randomized controlled trial involving 107 children with leukemia undergoing PICC placement.
• Patients were divided into a music therapy group (n=47) and a control group (n=60).
• Data collected included total catheterization time, sedative use, and changes in pain and emotional scores.

Main Results:

• The music therapy group experienced significantly shorter PICC placement times (35 vs. 60 minutes) and reduced sedative use (4.35% vs. 91.84%).
• Music therapy led to significant reductions in pain scores (median difference 2 vs. 5) and improvements in emotional scores (median difference 5 vs. 3).
• All observed differences between groups were statistically significant (p < 0.001).

Conclusions:

• Music therapy is a highly effective intervention for children undergoing PICC placement.
• It demonstrably shortens procedure duration, decreases the need for sedatives, and enhances patient comfort by reducing pain and improving mood.
• The findings support the integration of music therapy into clinical practice for pediatric oncology patients requiring PICC lines.