Music Therapy Reduces Pain in Palliative Care Patients: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Author: Gutgsell KJ, Schluchter M, Margevicius S, Degolia PA, McLaughlin B, Harris M, Mecklenburg J, Wiencek C.
Affiliation: University Hospitals Case Medical Center, Cleveland, Ohio, USA. Electronic address: kathy.gutgsell@uhhospitals.org.
Conference/Journal: J Pain Symptom Manage.
Date published: 2012 Sep 24
Other: Pages: pii: S0885-3924(12)00330-2. , Special Notes: doi: 10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2012.05.008. , Word Count: 244


CONTEXT:
Treatment of pain in palliative care patients is challenging. Adjunctive methods of pain management are desirable. Music therapy offers a nonpharmacologic and safe alternative.
OBJECTIVES:
To determine the efficacy of a single music therapy session to reduce pain in palliative care patients.
METHODS:
Two hundred inpatients at University Hospitals Case Medical Center were enrolled in the study from 2009 to 2011. Patients were randomly assigned to one of two groups: standard care alone (medical and nursing care that included scheduled analgesics) or standard care with music therapy. A clinical nurse specialist administered pre- and post-tests to assess the level of pain using a Numeric Rating Scale as the primary outcome, and the Face, Legs, Activity, Cry, Consolability Scale and the Functional Pain Scale as secondary outcomes. The intervention incorporated music therapist-guided autogenic relaxation and live music.
RESULTS:
A significantly greater decrease in Numeric Rating Scale pain scores was seen in the music therapy group (difference in means [95% CI] -1.4 [-2.0, -0.8]; P<0.0001). Mean changes in Face, Legs, Activity, Cry, Consolability scores did not differ between study groups (mean difference -0.3, [95% CI] -0.8, 0.1; P>0.05). Mean change in Functional Pain Scale scores was significantly greater in the music therapy group (difference in means -0.5 ([95% CI] -0.8, 0.3; P<0.0001).
CONCLUSION:
A single music therapy intervention incorporating therapist-guided autogenic relaxation and live music was effective in lowering pain in palliative care patients.
Copyright © 2012 U.S. Cancer Pain Relief Committee. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
PMID: 23017609