Effects of music therapy in cancer patients undergoing infusion chemotherapy: a prospective cohort observational...

Provide evidence supporting the integration of music therapy in cancer patients receiving infusion therapy.

This prospective cohort observational study examined 55 adult cancer patients while receiving infusion therapy at a tertiary care center. Forty-nine patients completed three consecutive music therapy sessions, allowing paired data analysis. Participants completed the Edmonton Symptom Assessment Scale (ESAS) before and after each session, and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory-6 (STAI-6) survey at the beginning and end of the study.

Music therapy was associated with highly significant improvements in wellbeing and reductions in levels of anxiety, depression, tiredness, and pain (P < 0.0001). Of the 49 subjects who completed the three sessions, 13, 10, and 16 reported being entirely calm, relaxed, and content at the study's entry, increasing to 36, 34, and 30, respectively, at the conclusion (P < 0.008). Subjects at study entry reporting no tension increased from 24 to 40 at study exit (P = 0.0013), for not worrying from 14 to 32 (P = 0.0005), and for not being upset from 39 to 43 (P = 0.254). We found no loss of efficacy of music therapy benefits throughout the three visits (P < 0.001) and a modest cumulative carryover anxiolytic effect from sessions one to three (P = 0.003). Both passive and active engagement showed comparable significant efficacy. Preference for passive music therapy was associated with higher pre-session anxiety and tiredness scores (P < 0.001).

Music therapy benefits cancer patients undergoing infusion therapy. Larger trials are needed to assess long-term outcomes and elucidate the underlying mechanisms.