Music Therapy Combined with Virtual Reality Reduces Prevalent Symptoms in Adult Patients with Advanced Cancer: Randomized Clinical Trial.

BACKGROUND

Music therapy (MT) and virtual reality (VR) are increasingly being used in palliative care for symptom management, though evidence quality remains low.

OBJECTIVES

The aim of our study was to assess the effect of combined MT + VR on the main symptom in palliative cancer patients.

DESIGN

This study employed an explanatory sequential mixed methods design based on a randomized controlled clinical trial, integrating quantitative outcomes with qualitative patient experiences.

MEASUREMENTS: The main symptom was the symptom rated as most severe by the patient on the Edmonton Symptom Assessment System Revised (ESAS-r) scale. Secondary outcomes included the global ESAS-r score, anxiety (additionally measured with State-Trait Anxiety Inventory-State [STAI-S]), emotional distress (DME scale), and heart rate. All variables were assessed at three time points: baseline (T1), post-intervention (T2), and 24 hours post-intervention (T3).

PATIENTS AND SETTINGS: Adult patients attended by palliative care with advanced cancer at a university hospital in Argentina.

RESULTS

Sixty patients completed the protocol. Significant differences between baseline (T1) and immediate post-intervention (T2) were observed when comparing the MT + VR condition to the control group for the main symptom (1.5 vs. 0, p < 0.001); global symptom score (9 vs. 0.5, p < 0.001); and anxiety (0.2 vs. 0.1, p < 0.001). No significant differences were found between groups at 24 hours post-intervention (T3) compared with baseline. Several categories of interest emerged: (a) affective states, (b) projections, and (c) transcendental experiences.

CONCLUSION

The combination of MT + VR improved the main symptom, as compared with the control group. Patient perceptions add valuable information about the factors that influenced this difference.