Ferrer, A.J. (2007). The effect of live music on decreasing anxiety in patients undergoing chemotherapy treatment. Journal of Music Therapy, 44, 242–255.

To investigate the effects of live music on anxiety levels of patients undergoing treatment with chemotherapy

Possible participants were approached by the researcher at the beginning of a chemotherapy treatment session. Consenting patients completed questionnaires and were randomly assigned to the control group or to receive live music. The live music consisted of 20 minutes of singing with guitar accompaniment. During the intervention, patients were encouraged to sing along and to request other preferred songs. Control group patients completed questionnaires but had no other contact with the researcher. After 20 minutes, both groups completed a second questionnaire.

• The study reported on a sample of 50 patients.
• The ages and diagnoses of patients were not reported.
• Of the sample, 64% had chemotherapy six or more times previously. Only five patients were undergoing chemotherapy for the first time.

• Single site
• Outpatient setting
• Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare

Not decribed

A randomized controlled trial design was used.

• Visual analog scales (VAS): 8 centimeter VAS for six items; specific VAS items included anxiety, fear, worry, fatigue, comfort, and relaxation.
• Heart rate
• Blood pressure

Mean anxiety declined in the experimental group, and increased in the control group. These changes were significantly different between groups (p = 0.009). Responses regarding fear (p = 0.047), relaxation (p = 0.004), and fatigue (p = 0.001) also showed a similar difference. There were no significant differences in heart rate or blood pressure changes between groups. Many patients in the experimental group were involved in the music with hand clapping, etc. Patients who received the music therapy stated that it made the time pass more quickly.

Use of live music may be helpful to patients who are receiving chemotherapy to manage anxiety related to the treatment.

• The study had a small sample, with less than 100 patients.
• The study had a high risk of bias since there was no blinding of patients or the researcher who also obtained and analyzed the data.
• The report provided no analysis or findings regarding patient demographics or other characteristics that could have influenced results seen.
• The setting was not described, and it is not clear whether patients in the experimental group received the intervention in private, or if the music would have also been overheard by others in the area.
• Changes in VAS results were small, so, although some were statistically significant, clinical significance of changes was not discussed.
• Appropriate attentional control was not provided, so it cannot be determined if findings had to do with use of live music or if any type of distraction would have achieved the same results.

Findings suggest that distractions such as live music as provided here can be helpful to patients during chemotherapy. This is a low-risk intervention that might be of benefit for some patients.