Effect of Music on Pain and Anxiety in Palliative Cancer Patients

NCT07262151 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: KMU-SHMYO-GK-01
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 32
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

Background: Cancer patients receiving palliative care often endure a variety of distressing symptoms, most notably pain and anxiety. Evidence suggests that music offers a symptom-alleviating effect for these patients and can also influence their physiological parameters. Aim: This investigation was structured as a quasi-experimental study utilizing a pre-test and post-test design with a control group. Its goal was to ascertain the influence of music on pain levels, anxiety states, and vital signs among cancer patients admitted to a palliative care facility. Methods: Data collection relied on the Patient Demographic Form, the Visual Analog Scale (VAS), the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), and a Physiological Parameter Monitoring Form. The intervention group was exposed to relaxing instrumental Turkish music in the maqams of Hicaz and Buselik for a single 30-minute session using MP3 players and headphones, whereas the control group was instructed to observe 30 minutes of bed rest without any other activity. Measurements were taken at baseline (pre-intervention) and immediately after the 30-minute intervention period between 10:00 AM and 5:00 PM following the patient's morning analgesic dose.

Conditions

Cancer; Cancer Pain; Palliative Care; Anxiety; Music Therapy

Keywords

Anxiety; Cancer; Music; Pain; Palliative care; Vital signs

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• • Visual Analog Scale

  A standard 10 cm tool (Price et al., 1983) where patients mark their current pain level (0 = no pain, 10 = worst possible pain).

  Baseline (Pre-Intervention) and Immediately Post-Intervention (Total 30-minute intervention period).

Secondary Outcomes (2)

• State Anxiety (State-Trait Anxiety Inventory - State Subscale)

  Baseline (Pre-Intervention) and Immediately After Intervention (30-minute intervention period).

• Trait Anxiety (State-Trait Anxiety Inventory - Trait Subscale)

  Baseline (Pre-Intervention) only.

Other Outcomes (6)

• Systolic Blood Pressure (mmHg)

  Baseline (Pre-Intervention) and Immediately Post-Intervention (30-minute intervention period).

• Diastolic Blood Pressure (mmHg)

  Baseline (Pre-Intervention) and Immediately Post-Intervention (30-minute intervention period).

• Heart Rate (beats per minute)

  Baseline (Pre-Intervention) and Immediately Post-Intervention (30-minute intervention period).

Study Arms (2)

Music Intervention Group

EXPERIMENTAL

Before the single-session intervention, the researcher administered the Patient Description Form, STAI, and VAS, and recorded baseline vital signs (Blood Pressure, Pulse Rate, Respiratory Rate, Body Temperature, SpO2). The intervention was scheduled between 10:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. following the patient's morning analgesic dose. Participants rested comfortably for 30 minutes while listening to music using an MP3 player and headphones. Headphones were used to enhance focus and minimize external noise, with separate devices used for each patient to adhere to infection control standards. Immediately post-intervention (second follow-up), VAS, State Anxiety Inventory, and vital signs were re-measured and recorded.

Other: Music Application

Control Group

OTHER

Procedures for the Control Group

Other: Procedures for the Control Group

Interventions

Music Application OTHER

Before the single-session intervention, the researcher administered the Patient Description Form, STAI, and VAS, and recorded baseline vital signs (Blood Pressure, Pulse Rate, Respiratory Rate, Body Temperature, SpO2). The intervention was scheduled between 10:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. following the patient's morning analgesic dose. Participants rested comfortably for 30 minutes while listening to music using an MP3 player and headphones. Headphones were used to enhance focus and minimize external noise, with separate devices used for each patient to adhere to infection control standards. Immediately post-intervention (second follow-up), VAS, State Anxiety Inventory, and vital signs were re-measured and recorded.

Music Intervention Group

Procedures for the Control Group OTHER

The control group followed the same two-phase data collection protocol as the intervention group (first follow-up). After baseline data collection, the control group was instructed to rest quietly in bed for 30 minutes without any other activity. Immediately after the rest period (second follow-up), the VAS, State Anxiety Inventory, and vital signs were measured and recorded.

Control Group

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years+
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Diagnosed with cancer
• Receiving palliative care treatment at Yozgat City Hospital or Karaman Training and Research Hospital
• Hospitalized in the palliative care center for at least 7 days
• Aged 18 years or older
• Able to speak and understand Turkish
• Able to communicate verbally
• Oriented to place and time
• No psychiatric disease
• No vision or hearing problems
• Self-reported pain intensity of at least 3 on the Visual Analog Scale in the last 24 hours
• Voluntarily agreed to participate in the study
• Provided written informed consent

You may not qualify if:

• Underwent major surgical intervention within the last month
• Currently using another complementary and integrative treatment (e.g., aromatherapy, acupuncture)
• Cognitive impairment preventing questionnaire completion
• Not open to communication
• Died within seven days of hospital admission

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Karamanoğlu Mehmetbey University: lead

Study Sites (1)

Yozgat city hospital

Yozgat, Merkez, 66000, Turkey (Türkiye)

Location

Related Publications (1)

• de Witte M, Pinho ADS, Stams GJ, Moonen X, Bos AER, van Hooren S. Music therapy for stress reduction: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Health Psychol Rev. 2022 Mar;16(1):134-159. doi: 10.1080/17437199.2020.1846580. Epub 2020 Nov 27.

  PMID: 33176590 BACKGROUND

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Neoplasms; Cancer Pain; Anxiety Disorders; Pain

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Neurologic Manifestations; Signs and Symptoms; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms; Mental Disorders

Study Officials

• Pınar Tekinsoy Kartın

  https://sbf.erciyes.edu.tr/

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: NON RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: SUPPORTIVE CARE
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Doctor

Model Details: a quasi-experimental design

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: November 16, 2025
• First Posted: December 3, 2025
• Study Start: February 1, 2021
• Primary Completion: June 1, 2022
• Study Completion: June 1, 2022
• Last Updated: December 3, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-11

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

TU (1)