Tsai, H.F., Chen, Y.R., Chung, M.H., Liao, Y.M., Chi, M.J., Chang, C.C., & Chou, K.R. (2014). Effectiveness of music intervention in ameliorating cancer patients' anxiety, depression, pain, and fatigue: A meta-analysis. Cancer Nursing, 37, E35–E50.

STUDY PURPOSE: To evaluate the effects of music on symptoms in patients with cancer

TYPE OF STUDY: Meta-analysis and systematic review

DATABASES USED: Ovid, PsycARTICLES, and PsycINFO (2002–2012)

KEYWORDS: neoplasms, cancer, and music or melody

INCLUSION CRITERIA: Used a music intervention in patients with cancer; quantitative methods; quasi-experimental or experimental design; reported statistical information to describe results; evaluated effects on anxiety, depression, pain, or fatigue

EXCLUSION CRITERIA: Qualitative design, case studies, or single-group studies

TOTAL REFERENCES RETRIEVED = 367

EVALUATION METHOD AND COMMENTS ON LITERATURE USED: Quality assessment with adapted Cochrane guidelines; the k value between reviewers was 0.9.

• FINAL NUMBER STUDIES INCLUDED =  21–17 for anxiety, 8 for depression, 6 for pain, and 5 for fatigue
• SAMPLE RANGE ACROSS STUDIES = 32–126

APPLICATIONS: Pediatrics, palliative care

For anxiety, music therapy had a moderate and significant effect with an effect size of -0.553 (Hedges; g) (95% CI -0.716, -0.398). There was significant heterogeneity in the sample. For depression, music therapy moderately and significantly reduced depression with an effect size for each study ranging from -0.151 to -0.787. Results were homogenous. Five of eight studies showed significant effects. For pain, music had an overall effect size of -0.656 (Hedges' g) (95% CI -1.016 to about -0.295), showing moderate-level effects on pain. There was significant heterogeneity among studies. For fatigue, music therapy had a small effect size of -0.422 (Hedges' g) (95% CI -0.669, -0.175). Results were homogenous. Studies were seen to be of good quality. Results of subgroup analysis suggest that music therapy is more effective in adults than children and more beneficial when the music is selected by the patient rather than the therapist.

This analysis shows that music interventions can reduce anxiety, depression, pain, and fatigue in patients with cancer with small-to-moderate effect sizes.

In several areas, there was high heterogeneity. Sample sizes, timing, and types of music interventions varied substantially, and, in most, the impact was evaluated immediately after the music intervention. Whether music has ongoing effectiveness with continued use or any lasting effect on the symptoms assessed is unclear.

Music interventions can be a good adjunctive and non-medication therapy that is of benefit in reducing anxiety, depression, pain, and fatigue in patients with cancer. The most beneficial ways and times to use music therapy are unclear. Nurses can suggest that patients use listening to music as part of self-care and can advocate for use of music as a low-risk intervention to ameliorate acute anxiety and pain symptoms.