The Effect of Music During Chemotherapy Treatment on Depression, Anxiety, Stress Levels and Chemotherapy Symptoms: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

AIM: This study aimed to determine the effect of listening to music during chemotherapy sessions on depression, anxiety, stress, and treatment-related symptoms.

METHODS

A randomised controlled trial was conducted between June and September 2023 with stable, non-metastatic patients receiving outpatient chemotherapy at a university hospital oncology unit. Sixty-three eligible patients were randomised to the intervention or control group, and 49 participants completed the study (intervention n = 24; control n = 25). Both groups received routine care, while the intervention group additionally listened to music during chemotherapy sessions for 4 weeks. Depression, anxiety, stress, and chemotherapy-related symptoms were assessed before and after the intervention using validated measurement tools. The study was reported according to the CONSORT guidelines.

RESULTS

Participants who listened to music showed significant reductions in depression, anxiety, and stress, together with improvements in treatment-related symptoms, including pain, fatigue, nausea, sadness, worry, insomnia, appetite loss, well-being, and shortness of breath.

CONCLUSION

Listening to music during chemotherapy may improve psychological well-being and alleviate treatment-related symptoms. As a simple, non-invasive, low-cost intervention, music can be incorporated into routine nursing care as a complementary therapeutic approach.

TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT06180629.