Effects of Five-Element Music on Cancer-Related Fatigue and Negative Emotion in Patients with Lung Cancer

This research explored the potential benefits of five-element music in cancer-related fatigue (CRF) and mood disturbances among patients with lung cancer.

This study included 460 hospitalised patients with lung cancer from July 2023 to February 2024. The participants were divided into two arms as follows: 217 received five-element music therapy and conventional nursing care (combined group), whilst 243 were assigned to conventional nursing care (routine group). Outcomes such as adverse reactions, Piper Fatigue Rating Scale (PFS-R) score and psychological status (Self-rating Anxiety Scale [SAS] and Self-rating Depression Scale [SDS] scores) were assessed before and after the care. The logistic regression model was used to explore the influence of five-element music on the above indicators.

Post-care data revealed declines in PFS-R scale scores for both groups, with the combined group exhibiting superior outcomes in cognition, behaviour, body and emotion (all P < 0.001). Psychological metrics (SAS/SDS) similarly favoured the combined group (all P < 0.001). The combined group demonstrated a significantly higher medication compliance rate than the routine group (92.63% vs. 81.48%, P < 0.001), underscoring the therapeutic advantage of the proposed approach. The results of logistic regression showed that significant associations were found between medication compliance and two key factors: anxiety scores (SAS, odds ratio [OR]: 1.055, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.013-1.100) and depression scores (SDS, OR: 1.246, 95% CI: 1.178-1.318).

The application of five-element music therapy demonstrates potential benefits for patients with lung cancer, including alleviating CRF, mitigating negative emotions and improving medication compliance.