The Effects of Music Therapy by Self-Selected Music Listening on Terminal Cancer Patients' Affect and Stress by Pain Level

Lee, Eun Hai; Choi, Sung Eun

Abstract

PURPOSE
This study investigated the effects that music therapy by self-selected music listening has on the affect and stress relief in adult patients who have been diagnosed with terminal cancer by pain level.
METHODS
Participants were 20 terminally ill cancer patients who were over 18 years old and were admitted to the hospice and palliative care unit of a local hospital. At the beginning of each session, participants selected music of their choice. Each participant had a total of six 30-minute music listening sessions. Participants were grouped into two according to their self-rated perceived pain scores on the visual analogue scale and numeric rated score: 5 and above and less than 5. Each participant completed a questionnaire on their affect state before and after each session and a questionnaire on their stress level before the first session and after the last session. Further analysis was performed to compare differences between the two groups according to pain level.
RESULTS
There were significant differences in patients' affect before and after each session (P<0.001) and stress level before and after the therapy (P=0.001).
CONCLUSION
In this study, self-selected music listening had positive effects on terminal cancer patients' affect and stress regardless of perceived pain level. Therefore, self-selected music listening can be used as an appropriate intervention to improve affect and reduce stress in terminal cancer patients in the hospice and palliative care unit.