A randomized pilot study of patient-preferred live music addressing fatigue, energy, and pain in adults on a medical oncology/hematology unit

Cancer-related fatigue (CRF) is the most persistent and commonly occurring side effect of cancer and its treatments. CRF can negatively impact recovery and there is a lack of music intervention research addressing CRF. The purpose of this randomized study was to determine the effects of a single patient-preferred live music (PPLM) session on fatigue, energy, and pain in adults on a medical oncology/hematology unit. Participants (N = 36) were randomly assigned to experimental or wait-list control conditions and completed measures at pre- and posttest. Experimental participants received an individual PPLM session. Participants were provided with a 35-song menu consisting of music from a variety of genres. The results indicated significant between-group differences in posttest fatigue (p =.004) and pain (p =.027) with experimental participants having more favorable means. Although the between-group difference in posttest energy was not significant, the experimental group had a greater increase in energy from pre- to posttest than the control group. As CRF is common and the existing literature indicates that adults in medical settings tend to prefer receptive interventions, PPLM may represent a practical and effective intervention to address fatigue and pain for adults on a medical oncology/hematology unit. Limitations, implications for clinical practice, and suggestions for further research are provided.