Impact of a Music Intervention on Quality of Life in Breast Cancer Patients Undergoing Chemotherapy: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Personality Type Shapes Acute Anxiety Response to Music and Medicine Intervention During First Chemotherapy (PEGASUS-2)

Music and medicine interventions are recognised for their effects on emotional regulation and stress reduction. However, limited research exists on how these interventions affect anxiety based on personality types, particularly in breast cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of music and medicine interventions on anxiety levels according to personality types in women with breast cancer receiving adjuvant chemotherapy. In a controlled, cross-sectional case-control study, 120 women were randomly assigned to two groups: an intervention group (music and medicine + chemotherapy) and a control group (chemotherapy only). The music playlist included classical, folk, and pop genres, and participants' anxiety levels were measured using the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory. Personality types were determined post-treatment using the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire - Revised Short Form. Serum C-reactive protein levels, blood pressure, and heart rate were also measured. Significant reductions were observed in anxiety levels, systolic blood pressure, heart rate, and serum C-reactive protein levels in the music intervention group compared to the control group. Neurotic individuals showed the most substantial improvement in anxiety, with reductions in systolic blood pressure and heart rate. Multivariate analysis revealed that both neurotic personality type and the music intervention were significant predictors of anxiety reduction. Music and medicine interventions provide notable benefits in reducing anxiety, particularly in neurotic individuals. Personalised music therapy based on personality types could enhance the quality of life for breast cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. While this study focuses on the immediate effects of MMI during the first chemotherapy session, future research should explore the long-term impacts to better understand the sustained efficacy of such interventions in managing anxiety across multiple treatment cycles.

Psychological stress on cancer progression and immunosenescence

Diagnosis and treatment of cancer constitute a deeply stressful experience that involves unique and common problems and generates uncertainty, fear and emotional distress. Furthermore, there are reciprocal interactions between psychological stress and cancer in the clinical settings. Therefore, it is crucial to understand the links of stress with cancer. A growing body of epidemiological and preclinical studies have suggested that stress affects cancer progression, and metastasis and treatment outcomes. Furthermore, stress elicits premature aging and deterioration of the immune system (known as immunosenescence), causing vulnerability to infections, autoimmune diseases, and cancers. In this review, we describe recent advances in how stress affects cancer progression through specific stress hormones and receptor systems as well as intracellular molecular processes, and discuss how stress-evoked neuroendocrine molecules regulate local and systemic immune responses in the tumor microenvironment. Furthermore, we review the molecular mechanisms of immunosenescence and evidence of psychological stress-evoked immunosenescence, highlighting the clinical value for available psychological and/or pharmacological interventions for psychological stress in patients with cancer. Based on existing evidence and emerging mechanistic insights, factors linked with psychological stress, immunosenescence and complications in cancer survivors need to be determined in future studies, and screening programs should be added to follow-up.

Efficacy of Music Therapy on Quality of Life in Cancer Patients: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

OBJECTIVE

This meta-analysis aims to evaluate the efficacy of music therapy on quality of life (QoL), anxiety, and depression in cancer patients.

METHODS

Nine electronic databases, encompassing six English and three Chinese databases were systematically searched for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) from the date of database inception to September 1, 2024. All RCTs that involved participants aged at least 18 years with any type of cancer, who received music therapy and had QoL as an outcome measure, were screened. The revised Cochrane's risk of bias tool was applied to evaluate the risk of bias. The Review Manager software was applied to execute this meta-analysis. Subgroup analyses were performed based on the type and duration of the music therapy.

RESULTS

Fourteen RCTs involving 1104 patients were included in this meta-analysis. The results showed that compared with usual care, wait list or health education, music therapy could significantly improve the QoL of cancer patients (standardized mean difference (SMD = 1.36); 95% confidence interval (CI: 0.77-1.96); p < 0.01; Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation assessment [GRADE]: moderate), with passive music therapy being superior to active-passive music therapy, can be protective against anxiety (SMD = -1.37; 95% CI:-2.29 to -0.45; p < 0.01; GRADE: moderate) and depression (SMD = -1.86; 95% CI:-3.65 to -0.08; p = 0.04; GRADE: low).

CONCLUSION

Music therapy was effective in improving the QoL of patients with cancer, with passive music therapy being superior to active-passive music therapy. Meanwhile, anxiety and depression were relieved as well. Further studies with rigorous study designs are needed to verify our conclusions.

Effects of WeChat-based EPIC training on health-related quality of life, attribution and life attitude in women newly diagnosed with breast cancer: a clinical randomized controlled trial

PURPOSE

When confronted with healthy functional impairments, the attribution of disease-induced distress plays a key role in the prognosis of health outcomes. This study examined the effects of an attribution-related intervention, namely WeChat-based EPIC (enter, practice, intensify, consolidate) training, on health-related quality of life (HRQoL), attribution, and life attitude in women newly diagnosed with breast cancer.

METHODS

Eligible patients were recruited using convenience sampling and randomly assigned to the intervention or control group via stratified block randomization. The former received WeChat-based EPIC training plus routine nursing care for 6 months. The latter received only routine nursing care. HRQoL (primary indicator), attribution and life attitude (secondary indicators) were measured using the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Breast version 4.0 (FACT-Bv4.0), Attributional Style Questionnaire (ASQ) and Life Attitude Self-rating Questionnaire for Breast Cancer (LASQ-BC), respectively. A linear mixed model was used to examine the score fluctuations at the 1-, 3-, and 6-month intervals relative to the baseline.

RESULTS

After 6 months, the intervention group (n = 84) showed statistically significant higher total scores in the FACT-Bv4.0 [mean difference: - 15.01; 95% confidence interval: - 17.96, - 12.07; p < 0.001], ASQ [- 4.16 (- 4.45, - 3.86); p < 0.001], and LASQ-BC [- 6.77 (- 8.27, - 5.27); p < 0.001] than that of the control group (n = 82). The total scores of the three indicators also showed significant group, time, and group-by-time interaction effects (p < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

The WeChat-based EPIC training was an effective intervention for improving HRQoL and psychological health in women newly diagnosed with breast cancer.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

Chinese Clinical Trial Registry www.chictr.org.cn , prospectively registered on 11 April 2020, ChiCTR2000031827.

Effect of Music on Anxiety and Fatigue in Cancer Patients Undergoing Chemotherapy: A Randomized Controlled Trial

BACKGROUND

Anxiety and fatigue are symptoms typically experienced by cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. In dealing with these symptoms, listening to music may help patients.

METHODS

The randomized controlled study was conducted between May 1, 2022 and November 10, 2022 with 60 patients treated in the outpatient chemotherapy unit. The data were gathered using a patient information form, Brief Fatigue Inventory, and the State Trait Anxiety Inventory. In addition to standard treatment and care, 30-minute music was played with a passive listening method in a total of three cycles of chemotherapy in the intervention group patients who completed the first cycle and visited for the second cycle of chemotherapy.

RESULTS

According to the analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) findings, the group variable significantly affected the post-test state anxiety scores when an adjustment was made for pre-test state anxiety scores (F=240.398, P<0.001, η²=0.808). In addition, pre-test state anxiety scores affected post-test results (F=7.925, P=0.007, η²=0.122). According to the ANCOVA findings, the group variable significantly affected the post-test trait anxiety scores (F=235.243, P<0.001, η²=0.805). In addition, pre-test trait anxiety scores affected post-test results (F=34.977, P<0.001, η²=0.380). According to ANCOVA results, the group variable significantly affected post-test fatigue scores (F=79.201, P<0.001, η²=0.582). In addition, pre-test scores affected post-test scores (F=11.082, P=0.002, η²=0.163).

CONCLUSION

We observed that music had positive effects on fatigue and anxiety levels in cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. It may be recommended to include music intervention in nursing practices for cancer patients during chemotherapy. The study results demonstrated that music intervention can be used in nursing practices for cancer patients during chemotherapy. Its low-cost and non-invasive nature also provide ease of application. Therefore, we can recommend the application of music intervention in outpatient chemotherapy units.

"Music Played a Role in Saving My Life and Getting Me Through All of This": A Descriptive Qualitative Study of Hope in Adolescents and Young Adults Living With Advanced Cancer

Background: Adolescents and young adults (AYAs) living with advanced cancer may experience a heightened risk for existential distress. Addressing AYAs' hopes can stimulate a dialogue about their concerns, values, and goals, provide a path to holistically support their existential needs, and potentially alleviate their distress. This study aimed to evaluate hope's role in a sample of AYAs living with advanced cancer. Method: This study used a Husserlian phenomenology-informed descriptive qualitative research design to elicit AYAs' experiences with hope while living with advanced cancer. Participants were virtually recruited from an academic medical center and an online non-profit organization. Thematic analyses were performed across the data set to identify final themes. Results: Fifteen AYAs aged 12-21 years diagnosed with advanced hematological (80%) or solid (20%) malignancies participated in this study. A main theme of Simple Supports of Hope with a subtheme of Diversion was identified. Participants described music as a form of diversion, which supported their hope. Participants found listening to music calming and comforting and helped them cope with their distress. Performing music provided a creative outlet for negative feelings associated with cancer treatment. Participants reported creating music transformed and deintensified the treatment environment and helped spread hope to healthcare staff. Discussion: AYAs may intentionally use music to improve emotional expression, empowerment, connection, and coping strategies throughout the treatment process for cancer. Additional research needs to be conducted exploring the use of music interventions such as therapeutic songwriting or compositional music therapy to assist AYAs with building coping strategies during treatment for cancer.

The Effect of Education Performed Using Mobile Application on Supportive Care Needs and Quality of Life in Women with Breast Cancer: Randomized Controlled Trial

OBJECTIVES

Aimed to determine the effect of education provided with a mobile application on the supportive care needs and quality of life of women undergoing breast-conserving surgery.

METHODS

The study was conducted in 81 patients. The experimental group received mobile application and the control group received standard education. Fisher's Exact Test, Chi-Square test, Student's t Test, Mann-Whitney U test, mixed design analysis of variance and Bonferroni-Dunn test were used to analyze the data.

RESULTS

While the pre-study supportive care needs scores of the women were similar in the experimental (85.37 ± 23.58) and control (83.13 ± 23.03) groups, they decreased significantly in the experimental group at the 4th and 8th-week measurements (54.34 ± 27.28; 58.78 ± 16.51) (p < .05). In the 4th and 8th week measurements, the quality of life of the experimental group (72.26 ± 14.12; 71.04 ± 8.12) increased significantly, while no significant change was found in the control group (42.50 ± 14.38; 45.63 ± 8.28).

CONCLUSIONS

It was found that the supportive care needs of the decreased and their quality of life increased after the education given to women with a mobile application.

IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING PRACTICE

This study ensured that women who had a sufficiently intense and exhausting process during the cancer treatment process could comfortably receive care support and education with the mobile application at any time and place they wanted. It also revealed that nurses can provide care and education support to their patients at any time and place they want with the mobile application in their busy work tempo.

Effect of music therapy on anxiety and depression in breast cancer patients: systematic review and meta-analysis

To systematically evaluate the intervention effect of music therapy on anxiety and depression in breast cancer patients. Randomised controlled trial (RCT) on music therapy for anxiety and depression in breast cancer patients was searched from 7 major databases, PubMed, Embase, the Cochrane Library, WOS, CNIC, Wanfang, and Wipro, spanning the period of library construction to 23 October 2023, and the literature screening of music therapy for anxiety or depression in breast cancer patients was carried out by 2 experimentalists, each of whom conducted a literature screening RCT independently of the other anxiety or depression in a RCT. Methodological quality was evaluated using the PEDro scale; GRADE profiler software for quality of evidence; and RevMan 5.4 was used for effect size merging and forest plots; publication bias tests and sensitivity analyses were performed using Stata 17.0; and standardized mean difference (SMD) and 95% CI were used as the effect statistics. A total of 13 RCTs with 1326 subjects (aged 18-70 years) were included in the literature, with a mean PEDro score of 6.8, and the literature was overall of good methodological quality. Meta-analysis showed that music therapy improved anxiety in breast cancer patients (841 cases), with a combined effect size (SMD = - 0.82, 95% CI [- 1.03, - 0.61] and P < 0.001); and improved depression in breast cancer patients (387 cases) with a combined effect size (SMD = - 0.76, 95% CI [- 1.15, - 0.38], P < 0.001). Subgroup analyses showed that music intervention with off-site music (757 cases) and music choice of non-self-selected music (537 cases) had the best effect on anxiety improvement, with corresponding combined effect sizes (SMD = - 0.88, P < 0.001; SMD = - 0.83, P < 0.001), respectively; followed by an intervention length of < 30 min (589 cases), a frequency of 2 times/day (382 cases), and intervention period of 2-3 weeks (101 cases) had the best effect on anxiety improvement, and the corresponding combined effect sizes were (SMD = - 0.80, P < 0.001; SMD = - 0.91, P < 0.001; SMD = - 1.02, P < 0.001), respectively; and the music selection was the choice of one's own favourite music among the expert recommendations (219 cases) (270 cases) had the best effect on the improvement of depressed mood, with combined effect sizes of (SMD = - 1.15, P < 0.001; SMD = - 0.71, P < 0.001) and music with an intervention duration of 30 min (287 cases), an intervention frequency of 1 time/day (348 cases), and an intervention period of 2-4 weeks (120 cases), respectively, with corresponding combined effect sizes of (SMD = - 0.75, P < 0.001; SMD = - 0.86, P < 0.001; SMD = - 1.06, P < 0.001), respectively. Music therapy can improve anxiety and depression in breast cancer patients, and the level of evidence is moderate. Although the heterogeneity between studies is high, which may lead to bias in the results, we explored the source of heterogeneity through subgroup and sensitivity analyses, providing a good evidence-based basis for clinical practice. The heterogeneity of anxiety and depression was explored by subgroup analysis, with anxiety due to music duration and music cycle; and depression due to intervention cycles and music duration. Sensitivity analyses also identified music duration and music cycle as contributing to the heterogeneity. Also, this study has some limitations since the included literature did not take into account the duration of the disease, education, and family economic status and did not categorize the age stages. This study found that music therapy improves anxiety and depression in breast cancer patients and the results can be used as a basis for clinical practice and researcher enquiry. This research has been registered on the INPLASY platform ( https://inplasy.com/contact/ ) under the number: INPLASY2023100057.

Impact of Educational Guidelines on Oral Mucositis Severity and Quality of Life in Oncology Patients Receiving Chemotherapy: A Quasi-Experimental Study

BACKGROUND

Oral mucositis (OM) is a prevalent side effect of chemotherapy that negatively impacts patient quality of life (QoL). Educational guidelines may provide strategies to mitigate these effects.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the effectiveness of educational guidelines on the severity of OM and QoL in oncology patients undergoing chemotherapy.

METHODS

A quasi-experimental study was conducted. Patients (n = 108) were randomly assigned to an intervention group receiving educational guidelines or a control group receiving routine care. Outcomes were assessed at baseline and at one and three months post-intervention. Data were collected using a structured interview including assessments of personal characteristics, clinical data, chemotherapy side effects, OM severity, and QoL.

RESULTS

Baseline QoL scores were comparable between groups. Post-intervention, the intervention group experienced significant improvements in QoL (p ≤ 0.05), while the control group showed a decline. OM severity was significantly reduced in the intervention group compared to the control group at both time points (p ≤ 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Educational guidelines are an effective intervention for reducing OM severity and improving QoL in oncology patients receiving chemotherapy. Implementation of these guidelines can enhance patient well-being and support optimal treatment outcomes.

Comparative efficacy of psychological interventions on anxiety and depression in patients with cancer: A systematic review and network meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Numerous studies have demonstrated that psychological interventions are effective in alleviating anxiety and depression in patients with cancer. However, the optimal psychological intervention to alleviate anxiety and depression in patients with cancer remains unknown. This study was carried out to compare and rank the comparative effectiveness of various psychological interventions on anxiety and depression in patients with cancer.

METHODS

Databases, namely PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, PsycINFO, CNKI, WanFang, VIP and CBM were systematically searched from their inception dates to December 2023 for randomized controlled trials of psychological interventions for anxiety and depression in patients with cancer. Utilizing the Cochrane Review Manager 5.4, we evaluated the risk of bias in the studies included in the current study based on the Cochrane Handbook 5.1.0 Methodological Quality Evaluation Criteria. The NMA was conducted using STATA 15.0. This study did not involve human participants and therefore did not require ethical approval.

RESULTS

Thirty-one randomized controlled trials involving 3471 participants were included. MT [SMD = 1.35, 95% CI (0.76, 1.93)] and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) [SMD = 0.97, 95% CI (0.53, 1.42)] were superior to usual care in alleviating anxiety. Besides, interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT) [SMD = 1.17, 95% CI (0.06, 2.28)], CBT [SMD = 0.97, 95 % CI (0.63, 1.30)], and MT [SMD = 0.93, 95% CI (0.35, 1.50)] were superior to usual care in alleviating depression. In addition, CBT was superior to family therapy in alleviating depression [SMD = 0.73, 95% CI (0.08, 1.38)]. The MT, CBT, and IPT ranked in the top three in alleviating anxiety, while IPT, CBT, and MT ranked in the top three in alleviating depression.

CONCLUSION

MT and IPT would be a more appropriate option in alleviating anxiety and depression in patients with cancer, respectively. This study also suggested that CBT had a significant effect in alleviating negative emotions in patients with cancer. However, the results need to be validated by high-quality and large-sample studies.

The Effect of Art Therapy on Pain, Emesis, Anxiety, and Quality of Life in Operated Breast Cancer Patients: Randomized Control Trials

Background: Breast cancer symptoms related to the disease nature and treatments develop and the quality of life of patients is impacted. Art therapy improves the quality of life by increasing symptom control and treatment compliance. This study aimed to determine the effect of art therapy on pain, emesis, anxiety, and quality of life in operated breast cancer patients. Methods: This experimental research was carried out with a total of 60 patients, 30 in the intervention group (IG) and 30 in the control group (CG), who received treatment in the Oncology Center of Sivas Cumhuriyet University Practice and Research Hospital. A Personal Information Form, the Pain Intensity-Visual Analog Scale, the Rhodes Index of Nausea, Vomiting, and Retching, the Beck Anxiety Inventory, and the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy Scale-General (FACT-G) were used to collect research data. Within the scope of the research, IG received chemotherapy sessions for 10 weeks (five sessions) with 2-week intervals by an art specialist in marbling, accompanied by ney music. CG received no intervention. The obtained data were uploaded to the SPSS (22.0) program and statistical analysis was performed. Results: The decrease in the pain, nausea-vomiting, and anxiety levels of the patients in IG and the increase in their quality of life after the art therapy accompanied by ney music were statistically significant compared with the first follow-up (p < 0.05). There was no statistically significant change in the quality of life of the patients in the CG, whereas their pain, nausea-vomiting, and anxiety scores increased. According to the comparison between IG and CG, there was a significant difference in favor of IG in terms of pain severity, quality of life, emesis, and anxiety levels (p < 0.05). Conclusions: The art of marbling with ney was effective in operated breast cancer patients experiencing pain, emesis, and anxiety and improved their quality of life. Clinical Trial Registration: NCT05666583.

Therapeutic Effect of Music Therapy on Patients with End-stage Cancer: A Retrospective Study

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to retrospectively analyze the effect of music therapy on patients with end-stage cancer in hospice care.

METHODS

This retrospective cohort study included 195 patients with end-stage cancer from January 2021 to December 2023. The conventional group comprised patients who received routine hospice care, whereas the combination group comprised those who received routine hospice care and music therapy. The immune indicators, anxiety and depression scores, quality of life scores, and sleep quality scores of both groups were compared before and after management.

RESULTS

Before management, no significant differences were observed in the immune indicators, anxiety and depression scores, quality of life scores, and sleep quality scores between both groups (P > 0.05). However, after management, the immune indicators lymphocytes CD3+ and CD4+ were significantly higher in the combination group than in the conventional group (P < 0.05); in contrast, anxiety and depression and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index scores were lower in the combination group than in the conventional group (P < 0.05). Lastly, the World Health Organization Quality of Life Brief Version scores were significantly higher in all domains in the combination group than in those in the conventional group; furthermore, the degree of decline in the physical, psychological, and social relationship domain scores was smaller in the combination group than in the conventional group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

For patients with end-stage cancer, music therapy can improve their immune status, quality of life, and sleep and ameliorate their anxiety and depression.

Personalized Music Therapy for Elderly Patients with Chronic Renal Failure to Improve their Quality of Life and Mental Health: A Retrospective Study

BACKGROUND

Chronic renal failure (CRF) poses significant clinical risks. Therefore, attention should be paid to the daily nursing of such patients, and better clinical nursing programs should be provided.

METHODS

The data of 120 patients with CRF at Yantai Yuhuangding Hospital from March 2020 to March 2022 were retrospectively analyzed. After 8 patients were excluded, 112 patients were finally included in this study. The included patients were divided into group A (58 patients receiving clinical routine nursing) and group B (54 patients receiving clinical routine nursing and personalized music) according to different nursing schemes. The anxiety level, depression level, quality of life (QOL), and clinical satisfaction of the patients in both groups were compared before and after nursing.

RESULTS

Before the implementation of nursing, no significant difference existed in the levels of anxiety, depression, and QOL between the two groups (P > 0.05). After nursing, group B had significantly lower levels of anxiety and depression and significantly higher QOL than group A (P < 0.001). No significant difference in clinical nursing satisfaction was found between the two groups (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSION

The implementation of personalized music can improve the QOL and psychological states of patients, with clinical application value.

Effects of Music Intervention on Anxiety, Depression Symptoms and Quality of Life in Breast Cancer Patients: A Meta-Analysis

BACKGROUND

Music therapy is often used to relieve anxiety and depression in breast cancer patients, but the clinical effect of music therapy on breast cancer patients is still controversial. This study was a systematic review to investigate the effects of music intervention on anxiety, depression, pain, and quality of life in breast cancer patients.

METHOD

A computer search of PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and The Cochrane Library repositories was conducted. We searched for randomized controlled trials (RCTs), published in English until October 2023, on the effects of music interventions on anxiety, depressive symptoms, pain levels, and quality of life in breast cancer patients. The Cochrane Manual of Systematic Review 5.3 was used to evaluate the quality of the included references, and Stata15.0 software was selected for meta-analysis of the study indicators.

RESULTS

A total of 10 articles were included in this study, including 593 patients. Meta-analysis showed that music intervention could effectively alleviate anxiety symptoms [standardized mean difference (SMD) = -2.12, 95% confidence interval (CI): -3.17~-1.07], depression symptoms (SMD: -0.77, 95% CI: -1.47~-0.07), and pain degree (SMD: -3.47, 95% CI: -6.45~-0.48). There was no significant difference in the improvement of patients' quality of life (SMD: -0.07, 95% CI: -0.48~0.34).

CONCLUSION

Music intervention can effectively relieve anxiety and depression symptoms in patients with breast cancer, and reduce the degree of pain, but demonstration of its ability to improve the quality of life of patients requires additional research.

Improvement in Patient Satisfaction and Anxiety With Perioperative Music Therapy in Patients Undergoing Total Abdominal Hysterectomy: A Single-Blind Prospective Study

Introduction Listening to music is a safe and low-cost way to reduce preoperative anxiety among patients, but more research is needed to evaluate its effectiveness fully. Aims The aim of the study is to identify the effect of intraoperative music therapy on the visual analogue scale for anxiety (VASA) scores (VASA 1 and VASA 2) and patient satisfaction score (PSS) perioperatively. Methods In a study of 188 patients aged 40-70, those in group A (94 patients) listened to pre-approved music during their surgery for abdominal hysterectomy, while group B (94 patients) did not. Both groups wore noise-cancelling earphones. VASA was recorded before (VASA 1) and after (VASA 2) the surgery. PSS was recorded in the postoperative ward. Music preferences were kept confidential from the investigator recording the scores. Result The two groups of patients had similar demographic profiles and baseline characteristics. The VASA 1 of both groups was similar, with a mean value of 4.36 ± 1.13 for group A and 4.23 ± 1.05 for group B (p = 0.606). However, group A had lower VASA 2 (1.79 ± 0.83) than group B (3.77 ± 0.98). The difference was statistically significant (p < 0.001). The patient satisfaction score in group A was notably higher than those in group B. A total of 52 patients were highly satisfied in group A as compared to none in group B (p < 0.001), and a total of 42 patients were moderately satisfied as compared to eight patients in group B (p < 0.001). Eighty-six patients in group B were unsatisfied. Conclusion According to our research, playing specific music at the right volume can significantly lower anxiety levels and increase patients' satisfaction scores for those who have had abdominal hysterectomy surgeries.

Barriers to Implementation of Music Listening Interventions for Cancer-Related Phenomena: A Mapping Review

Introduction: Despite music listening interventions (MLIs) being recommended in multiple clinical practice guidelines, implementation into oncology clinical practice sites has been slow. This mapping review aimed to critique and identify barriers to MLI clinical implementation, as well as offer practical solutions for both clinicians and researchers. Methods: A PRISMA-based mapping review of MLI literature was performed using CINAHL, PubMed, PsycINFO, and Web of Science databases. Eligibility criteria included studies with MLIs as independent variables and cancer-related phenomena as outcome variables. Search was performed in October 2021, and no date limit was set. Results: Thirty-eight studies met the eligibility criteria for inclusion. Several aspects of MLI studies suggested potential barrier status to clinician or patient adoption. These findings included choice of music, music delivery hardware, dose of MLI, and timing of MLI specific to outcomes of interest (e.g., pain, anxiety, mood). Few investigators addressed the concurrent effects of pharmaceuticals (e.g., analgesics, anxiolytics), and controlling for the effects of competing auditory stimuli was minimal. Discussion: This review has identified several barriers that may obstruct clinician and patient adoption of MLIs, despite level of evidence for MLIs that presently exists in the literature. The review makes practical suggestions for clinicians, researchers, and patients to overcome the present barriers and ease MLIs into common practice in clinics and homes.

Mitigation of Chemotherapy-Induced Nausea Using Adjunct Music Listening: A Pilot Study

The persistence of chemotherapy-induced nausea (CIN) underscores the need to consider nonpharmacologic treatments such as music listening as adjunct interventions. This pilot study investigated the feasibility and overall effects of a 30-minute adjunct music listening intervention in 12 patients experiencing CIN. Music listening was started at the time participants took their as-needed antiemetic medication, and it was repeated as needed during the 5 days after chemotherapy. Data for 66 music listening engagements were collected. A significant reduction of nausea severity (t = 10.97, p < .001) and distress (t = 9.86, p < .001) was noted overall, as well as significant reductions when examining the acute and delayed phases of nausea individually. Qualitative data on study feasibility demonstrated the intervention was well received by participants and held minimal operational difficulty. Investigator feasibility data suggested good understanding of data collection tools. Improvements to the study design have been collected and will form the basis of the future randomized controlled trial.

Effects of music intervention on anxiety, depression, and quality of life of cancer patients receiving chemotherapy: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Music may be a safe and effective coping strategy for psychological management. The objectives of this review were to identify the effects of music interventions on anxiety, depression, and quality of life (QoL) among cancer patients receiving chemotherapy.

METHODS

Fourteen databases were searched from the inception date to December 2020 to identify eligible randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Gray literature was also examined. The protocol of this systematic review was registered with PROSPERO (registration number: CRD42021223845). Two reviewers independently assessed eligibility, extracted data, and evaluated methodological quality. Meta-analysis was done. Subgroup analysis was conducted for intervention types, the person selecting music, music delivery method, timing, and session duration.

RESULTS

Nine RCTs were identified, among which six were eligible for the meta-analysis. All studies were at a high risk of bias, and the overall quality of evidence was low to very low. The pooled results reveal that music intervention could reduce anxiety (SMD: - 0.29, 95% CI - 0.50 to - 0.08) and improve QoL (SMD: 0.42, 95% CI 0.02 to 0.82). However, it fails to affect depression (p = 0.79). The findings demonstrate no significant difference between patient-selected music and researcher-selected music, recorded music, and live music, while a length of 15-20 min/session and offering immediately before chemotherapy are more effective on anxiety than that of 30-45 min and delivering during chemotherapy.

CONCLUSIONS

Music intervention may be a beneficial tool for anxiety reduction and QoL among cancer patients receiving chemotherapy. More high-quality RCTs are needed to ascertain the true impact of those outcomes.