ArticleEvidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM2011
The effectiveness of music in pediatric healthcare: a systematic review of randomized controlled trials.
Article in Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM, 2011. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It is linked to trial NCT03899766 (Animal Assisted Activity, Clowns and Music for the Reduction of Distress and Pain in Children During Venipuncture), which is not on this map. Cited by 14 papers, 3 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Animal Assisted Activity, Clowns and Music for the Reduction of Distress and Pain in Children During Venipuncture
Who cites it
14 citing papers in PubMed, 3 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.
- A Systematic Review and Evidence Gap Map Evaluation of Rhythmic and/or Complex Movement Interventions and Child Cognitive Outcomes.Clinical child and family psychology review · 2025Pooled it
- Interventions in subacute paediatric inpatient neurorehabilitation: an umbrella review.Journal of rehabilitation medicine · 2025Pooled it
- Facilitators and barriers to quality of care in maternal, newborn and child health: a global situational analysis through metareview.BMJ open · 2014Pooled it
- A chinese mind-body exercise improves self-control of children with autism: a randomized controlled trial.PloS one · 2013Trial
- A cluster-randomised clinical trial comparing two cardiovascular health education strategies in a child population: the Savinghearts project.BMC public health · 2012Trial
- Exploring a Single Music Therapy Session to Reduce 22q11.2 Deletion Syndrome Child and Adolescent's Outpatient Clinic-Related Anxiety.Journal of paediatrics and child health · 2026Article
- The LIRIC Study-Live musIc in Relational Interactions with Children: using live music to transform interactions during wound dressing changes in pediatrics: a grounded-theory study.European journal of pediatrics · 2025Article
- Characteristics and impacts of live music interventions on health and wellbeing for children, families, and health care professionals in paediatric hospitals: a scoping review.International journal of qualitative studies on health and well-being · 2023Article
- A Comprehensive Management Approach in Pediatric and Adolescent Patients With Hereditary Angioedema.Clinical pediatrics · 2023Review
- Psychological aspects in children and parents of children with chronic kidney disease and their families.Clinical and experimental pediatrics · 2022Article
- Effectiveness of music therapy: a summary of systematic reviews based on randomized controlled trials of music interventions.Patient preference and adherence · 2014Review
- A chan dietary intervention enhances executive functions and anterior cingulate activity in autism spectrum disorders: a randomized controlled trial.Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM · 2012Article
- Neural and Behavioral Effects of Harp Music: Frontal Alpha Suppression and Reaction Times in Relation to Depression-Related Traits.Journal of evidence-based integrative medicineArticle
- Effects of music therapy on pain responses induced by blood sampling in premature infants: A randomized cross-over trial.Iranian journal of nursing and midwifery researchArticle
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
5 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
The aim of this study was to systematically review the effectiveness of music on pediatric health-related outcomes. Five electronic databases were searched for randomized controlled/crossover trial designs published between 1984 and 2009. Eligible studies used music as a therapy or intervention, included participants 1 to 18 years, and focused on at least one health-related outcome (with the exclusion of procedural pain). Seventeen studies met the inclusion criteria. Quantitative synthesis was hampered by an inability to aggregate data arising from heterogeneity of interventions, outcomes and measurement tools. Qualitative synthesis revealed significant improvements in one or more health outcomes within four of seven trials involving children with learning and developmental disorders; two of three trials involving children experiencing stressful life events; and four of five trials involving children with acute and/or chronic physical illness. No significant effects were found for two trials involving children with mood disorders and related psychopathology. These findings offer limited qualitative evidence to support the effectiveness of music on health-related outcomes for children and adolescents with clinical diagnoses. Recommendations for establishing a consensus on research priorities and addressing methodological limitations are put forth to support the continued advancement of this popular intervention.
Identifiers
What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.