Evaluation of the Effectiveness of Music Therapy on Anxiety Levels in Patients With Advanced Cancer Hospitalized in a Palliative Care Unit

Evaluation of the Effectiveness of Music Therapy on Anxiety Levels in Patients With Advanced Cancer Hospitalized in a Palliative Care Unit

A music therapy intervention can be either receptive or active. In both cases, somatic effects have been observed, with a direct impact on respiratory, cardiac and hemodynamic parameters, as well as psychological effects, creating a relationship of support, accompaniment and listening to the person. An intervention protocol using Kigonki has been developed and validated by the University Diploma in Music Therapy team at Paul-Valéry Montpellier 3 University (DUMM3). Studies on music therapy in palliative care have been published, but there is still a need for large controlled studies assessing the prolonged effect of a standardized intervention. This randomized clinical is designed for patients with terminal cancer pathology, hospitalized in palliative care units and with anxiety and depression scores both above 11 on the Hospital Anxiety and Depression scale (HAD). The primary endpoint is change in anxiety score. Patients included in the experimental arm will be offered the above-mentioned protocol with 3 weekly sessions of receptive music therapy with Kigonki for 2 weeks, after drawing up an intervention plan. Anxiety/depression levels will be measured before and 30 minutes after each session, as well as one week after the last session. Patients in the reference arm will have their anxiety/depression level monitored 3 times a week. In both arms, the study will be terminated at the end of the last protocol evaluation (i.e., at 3 weeks). If anxiety worsens (score rises by 2 points), a music therapy intervention similar to that performed for patients of the experimental arm may be proposed to patients of the reference arm. This project requires the participation of 84 patients, which seems feasible at the inter-regional level in 7 centers over 18 months.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Age > 18 years
• Patient hospitalized in palliative care unit for oncological pathology
• Presenting an anxiety score > 46 (according to the STAI-Y State scale)
• Whose subsequent hospitalization is estimated to last more than three weeks
• No deafness likely to interfere with a receptive music therapy session (no difficulty in understanding whispered speech).
• Affiliated with a social security scheme
• Have signed the consent form for the study

Exclusion Criteria:

• Deafness without hearing aids
• Patients under guardianship, curatorship or safeguard of justice
• Pregnant or breast-feeding
• Not affiliated to a social security scheme
• Patient with an aversion to the sounds produced by the Kigonki