The Effects of Music Therapy on Anxiety and Depression of Cancer Patients.
OBJECTIVE
Cancer patients often suffer from anxiety and depression. Various methods are used to alleviate anxiety and depression, but most of them have side effects. Music therapy can be used as a noninvasive method to reduce anxiety and depression. This study aimed to examine the effect of music therapy on anxiety and depression in patients with cancer.


METHODS
This quasi-experimental study was conducted attaching hospitals in Urmia city. A total number of sixty patients with depression and anxiety were recruited using random sampling method and divided into two groups of control and intervention. Patients in intervention group listened to light music at least 20 min per day for 3 days. The degree of patients' anxiety and depression was assessed by Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale at baseline and 3 days after music therapy. Data were analyzed by SPSS version 13 using t-test, Pearson, and ANOVA tests.


RESULTS
The results showed no significant differences between demographic variable of intervention and control groups. Our findings indicated a significant decrease in the level of depression and anxiety among intervention group. There were significant relationships between anxiety, depression, and sex (P< 0.001, r = 0.42) as well as education (P= 0.003, r = 0.37).


CONCLUSIONS
This study revealed positive effects of music therapy on decreasing level of depression and anxiety in patients with cancer. Therefore, it is recommended to include music therapy in the nursing care.
Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Urmia, Iran.
Madineh
M
Jasemi
Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, Ilam University of Medical Sciences, Ilam, Iran.
Sanaz
S
Aazami
Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Urmia, Iran.
Roghaieh Esmaili
RE
Zabihi
Anxiety; Cancer; Depression; Music