title: Effect of self-selected music on adults' anxiety and subjective experiences during initial radiotherapy treatment: a randomised controlled trial and qualitative research.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Patients may experience radiotherapy as anxiety provoking, especially during unfamiliar initial treatment. This study examines whether patients' use of self-selected music while undergoing first radiotherapy treatment reduces anxiety, and how patients describe their first radiotherapy experience with or without self-selected music.
  
  
  METHODS
  Using quantitative and qualitative methods, 100 participants preparing to commence radiotherapy were assigned to the initial radiotherapy session either with self-selected music or without music. In both participant groups, the Spielberger State Anxiety Inventory measured pre- and post-radiotherapy levels, music preference questions examined future music desires during treatment and a semistructured questionnaire examined additional subjective experiences.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Overall, participants were not highly anxious pre-radiotherapy, anxiety decreased in both music and control groups following radiotherapy (P = 0.008) and this change was not different between groups (P = 0.35). However, music group participants were significantly more likely to want music in future radiotherapy sessions (P = 0.007). Some reported a benefit from the music in terms of feeling supported, distracted or that treatment time seemed faster. Participants in both groups often commended helpful staff. Negative reactions were only occasional.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although preferred music does not reduce anxiety, it can support some patients undergoing initial radiotherapy and departmental staff should invite patients to bring music to radiotherapy, provide music libraries and offer to play patient selected music during treatments.
authors.affiliation: Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. clare.ocallaghan@petermac.org
authors.forename: Clare
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: O'Callaghan
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sproston
authors.forename: Kate
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Wilkinson
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Willis
authors.forename: Alvin
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Milner
authors.forename: Denise
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Grocke
authors.forename: Greg
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Wheeler
mesh_terms: D001007:Anxiety / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D001315:Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D015984:Causality; D002755:Choice Behavior; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009147:Music Therapy / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010358:Patient Participation / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015995:Prevalence; D011878:Radiotherapy / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016896:Treatment Outcome