Music may be a tool in reducing anxiety, pain, and improving mood among patients with cancer in active treatment. However, methodological limitations in the studies conducted so far prevent firm conclusions.

Chemotherapy is associated with both somatic and psychological side effects. Music might ease these problems. Several randomized controlled trials have investigated the effect of music, but the results are inconclusive. We aimed to examine whether live or pre-recorded music listening decrease anxiety during chemotherapy in newly diagnosed lymphoma patients. Methods: A total of 143 patients with non-Hodgkin and Hodgkin lymphomas were randomly assigned into three groups receiving either 30 minutes of patient-preferred live music (n=47), 30 minutes of patient-preferred pre-recorded music (n=47) or standard care (n=49) during up to five outpatient chemotherapy sessions. The primary end-point was anxiety measured by the Spielberger´s State Anxiety Inventory. Secondary end-points included blood pressure, pulse rate, nausea and vomiting, serum catecholamine levels pre-and post-intervention to measure arousal levels, and healthrelated quality of life. The Musical Ability Test was used to link musical ability to the primary endpoint. Results: When adjusting for age, sex, diagnosis, number of sessions and baseline anxiety the linear mixed model, showed a borderline statistically significant reduction in the primary outcome anxiety in the live music group compared to standard care (7% (95% CI,-14% to 0%, p=0.05), while the effect of pre-recorded music was non-significant (5% (95% CI,-12% to +3%, p=0.18). No intervention effects were seen in secondary outcomes. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that patient-preferred live music reduces anxiety among patients with malignant lymphomas undergoing chemotherapy. Musical ability among this group of cancer patients seems not to be a determining factor for effect of music intervention.

The aim of this hermeneutic-phenomenological study was to explore the perspectives of 12 patients, 17 nurses, and 4 musicians on patient-tailored live music interventions in a hemodialysis setting. Twenty-six semi-structured interviews were collected—17 with patients, 9 with nurses. Furthermore, 18 moderate participation observations, whilst 1 semi-structured group interview with 3 nurses and 3 musicians, and 13 reflective journals from musicians were collected. Within the analysis—based on Ricoeur’s theory of interpretation—two overall themes emerged: (1) the inner space and (2) the participating space, followed by five subthemes: (1a) Entering a calm and enjoyable pause bubble; (1b) Resting in a thought-free state of mind; (1c) Traveling in the past and catching the moment through heartfelt music; (2a) Bringing positive changes into life; (2b) The artistic quality mediating a magnificent and beautiful experience. We found that patient-tailored live music was a meaningful break, influencing mental and physical well-being, time perception, community, work environment, and artistic approach. The artistic quality of the music was essential—together with the musicians’ social awareness, empathy, and ability to interact with the patients—in creating meaningful moments for patients and staff. Overall, the music interventions were a welcome change in a predictable world of stressful routines and repetitive treatments.

BackgroundFatigue is an immense problem among patients undergoing haemodialysis and is associated with anxiety and depression. Live music used in different hospital settings has shown promising effects, but the feasibility and potential effectiveness of live music during haemodialysis are unknown.ObjectivesTo evaluate the feasibility, the participants' musical experience and potential effectiveness of live music on patients’ levels of fatigue, relaxation, anxiety, depression, treatment satisfaction and work engagement among nurses.DesignA pilot randomised controlled trial evaluated with a multiple methods design.ParticipantsTwo clusters of 12 patients were each randomised to receive either 30 min of live music once a week during haemodialysis or usual care over a period of 6 weeks.MeasurementsThe primary outcome was patients' immediate fatigue. Other outcomes were patients' long‐term and post‐dialysis fatigue, relaxation, anxiety, depression, treatment satisfaction and work engagement among nurses. Observations and semi‐structured interviews with patients, nurses and musicians were conducted to gain an in‐depth understanding of the musical experience as well as feasibility.ResultsThe study was feasible and detected significant differences on immediate fatigue (p < 0.001) and anxiety (p < 0.012) in the intervention group compared to controls. Among 17 nurses, a significant difference was found in Dedication (p < 0.024). Furthermore, live music gave patients an uplifting experience, bringing joy and relaxation and the nurses experienced a sense of quietness in a stressful day.ConclusionsProviding live music performed by professional musicians in a haemodialysis setting is feasible and showed a significant effect on immediate fatigue and anxiety compared to controls.