Nightingale, C.L., Rodriguez, C., & Carnaby, G. (2013). The impact of music interventions on anxiety for adult cancer patients: A meta-analysis and systematic review. Integrative Cancer Therapies.

To clarify the effect of music interventions on anxiety for adult patients with cancer from rigorously conducted studies
 

TYPE OF STUDY: Meta-analysis and systematic review

• Databases searched were PubMed, PsycINFO, CINAHL, Web of Science, and the WorldCat dissertation database.
• Search keywords were music, music therapy, music intervention and cancer, neoplasm, and malignancy.
• Studies were included in the review if they
  • Were a randomized controlled trial
  • Tested a music intervention
  • Studied an adult population
  • Reported measurable anxiety outcomes
  • Used validated measures
  • Were accessible in full text
  • Scored at least 5 on the PEDro scale, indicating a high-quality study.
• Exclusion criteria were not specified.

• A total of 606 references were retrieved.
• The PEDro scale was used to evaluate quality, applied independently by two people.

• A final number of 13 studies were reviewed, with 4 included in meta-analysis.
• A total of 709 patients were included in the review, with a sample range across studies of 20–98.
• The sample had various tumor types. Most studies were done during active treatment. One study was done related to a bone marrow biopsy procedure.

Patients were undergoing active antitumor treatment.

Length of the intervention varied substantially from 5 minutes to 4 hours. There was high variability in the number of sessions delivered. Most studies examined a single intervention with immediate pre and post anxiety measurement. Three delivered live music, 1 involved a music therapist, and 11 involved listening to music via headphones. Meta-analysis showed no significant difference between the music intervention and controls (SMD = -0.003 (95% CI -0.51, 0.52).

Meta-analysis showed no significant effect of music interventions on anxiety in adults with cancer.

• A low number of studies were included in meta-analysis.
• There was high heterogeneity among the studies.
• There was variability in the type, duration, and timing of the music interventions used.

Results of this analysis do not support an effect of music interventions on anxiety in adults with cancer.