Trial reportSupportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer2015
The impact of music therapy versus music medicine on psychological outcomes and pain in cancer patients: a mixed methods study.
Trial report in Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer, 2015. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It is linked to 2 registered trials, which are not on this map. Cited by 65 papers, 12 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.
Evaluation of an Algorithmically Enhanced Personalized Music-based Intervention on Stress Reduction in Cancer Patients
Feasibility of N-of-1 Trials to Evaluate Music Therapy in Patients With Breast Cancer Undergoing Adjuvant Chemotherapy: a Multicentre Pilot Study Protocol Integrated Music Therapy Program for Advanced Care in Breast Cancer Treatment (IMPACT)
Who cites it
65 citing papers in PubMed, 12 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.
- Musical and vocal interventions to improve neurodevelopmental outcomes for preterm infants.The Cochrane database of systematic reviews · 2023Pooled it
- Effects of music-based interventions on cancer-related pain, fatigue, and distress: an overview of systematic reviews.Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer · 2023Pooled it
- The Use of Music to Manage Burnout in Nurses: A Systematic Review.American journal of health promotion : AJHP · 2022Pooled it
- Effects of music intervention on anxiety, depression, and quality of life of cancer patients receiving chemotherapy: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer · 2022Pooled it
- Music interventions for improving psychological and physical outcomes in people with cancer.The Cochrane database of systematic reviews · 2021Pooled it
- Evaluating physiologic outcomes of music interventions in the neonatal intensive care unit: a systematic review.Journal of perinatology : official journal of the California Perinatal Association · 2020Pooled it
- Effects of music therapy on depression: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.PloS one · 2020Pooled it
- Music Therapy in the Psychosocial Treatment of Adult Cancer Patients: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.Frontiers in psychology · 2020Pooled it
- Effectiveness of Dance Movement Therapy in the Treatment of Adults With Depression: A Systematic Review With Meta-Analyses.Frontiers in psychology · 2019Pooled it
- Reporting quality of music intervention research in healthcare: A systematic review.Complementary therapies in medicine · 2018Pooled it
- A Systematic Review of Exercise Systematic Reviews in the Cancer Literature (2005-2017).PM & R : the journal of injury, function, and rehabilitation · 2017Pooled it
- Effects of music therapy and music-based interventions in the treatment of substance use disorders: A systematic review.PloS one · 2017Pooled it
- What About the Caregivers? Music Medicine as a Tool for Improving Psychological Well-Being Among Caregivers During Cancer Chemotherapy Treatment.JCO oncology practice · 2026Trial
- The effect of music and affirmation listening on symptom management, psychological resilience, and anxiety levels in women with breast cancer.Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer · 2025Trial
- Refining a hybrid music therapy intervention for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and heart failure: a single arm pilot study.BMC complementary medicine and therapies · 2025Trial
- Music Therapy for Pain Management for People With Advanced Cancer: A Randomized Controlled Trial.Psycho-oncology · 2024Trial
- Using Music as a Tool for Distress Reduction During Cancer Chemotherapy Treatment.JCO oncology practice · 2023Trial
- Receptive music therapy versus group music therapy with breast cancer patients hospitalized for surgery.Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer · 2023Trial
- Sensorimotor synchronization to music reduces pain.PloS one · 2023Trial
- Relaxation music for stress alleviation: Exploring relationships of audio features and listener profiles.Musicae scientiae : the journal of the European Society for the Cognitive Sciences of Music · 2026Article
5 more citing papers are in PubMed but not listed here.
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
8 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
purposeThe purpose of this study was to compare the impact of music therapy (MT) versus music medicine (MM) interventions on psychological outcomes and pain in cancer patients and to enhance understanding of patients' experiences of these two types of music interventions.
methodsThis study employed a mixed methods intervention design in which qualitative data were embedded within a randomized cross-over trial. Thirty-one adult cancer patients participated in two sessions that involved interactive music making with a music therapist (MT) and two sessions in which they listened to pre-recorded music without the presence of a therapist (MM). Before and after each session, participants reported on their mood, anxiety, relaxation, and pain by means of visual analogue and numeric rating scales. Thirty participants completed an exit interview.
resultsThe quantitative data suggest that both interventions were equally effective in enhancing target outcomes. However, 77.4 % of participants expressed a preference for MT sessions. The qualitative data indicate that music improves symptom management, embodies hope for survival, and helps connect to a pre-illness self, but may also access memories of loss and trauma. MT sessions helped participants tap into inner resources such as playfulness and creativity. Interactive music making also allowed for emotional expression. Some participants preferred the familiarity and predictability of listening to pre-recorded music.
conclusionsThe findings of this study advocate for the use of music in cancer care. Treatment benefits may depend on patient characteristics such as outlook on life and readiness to explore emotions related to the cancer experience.
Indexed as
Identifiers
25322972What 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.