Effects of Five-Element Music Therapy Combined with Traditional Chinese Medicine Rehabilitation on Clinical Outcomes in Decompensated Liver Cirrhosis.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to investigate the effects of five-element music therapy combined with Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) comprehensive rehabilitation on liver function, nutritional status, sleep quality and psychological state in hospitalised patients with decompensated liver cirrhosis.

METHODS

A retrospective analysis was conducted on 156 patients hospitalised for decompensated liver cirrhosis from June 2022 to March 2024. The patients were divided into two groups as follows: TCM comprehensive rehabilitation (76 cases) and five-element music therapy combined with TCM comprehensive rehabilitation (80 cases). Changes in psychological state (Self-rating Anxiety Scale [SAS] and Self-rating Depression Scale [SDS]), liver function (alanine aminotransferase [ALT], aspartate aminotransferase [AST], total bilirubin [TBIL], direct bilirubin [DBIL] and albumin [ALB]), nutritional status (haemoglobin, prealbumin [PA], total protein, Nutritional Risk Screening 2002 and Simplified Nutritional Appetite Questionnaire [SNAQ]) and sleep quality (Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index [PSQI]) were compared before and after the nursing approach was implemented.

RESULTS

Both groups showed significant improvements post-nursing approach in SAS, SDS, liver function, nutritional status and sleep quality (P < 0.05). The five-element music therapy group exhibited significant reductions in SAS, SDS and PSQI scores and better improvements in PA and SNAQ scores than the TCM comprehensive rehabilitation group (P < 0.05). Although the liver function indicators (ALT, AST, TBIL, DBIL and ALB) improved in both groups, no statistically significant differences were observed between groups (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Five-element music therapy combined with TCM comprehensive rehabilitation significantly improves psychological state, nutritional status and sleep quality in hospitalised patients with decompensated liver cirrhosis. This integrative care model is worth promoting in clinical practice.