Music interventions may improve psychological and physical outcomes for people with cancer

Results of 26 trials suggest music therapy and music medicine interventions may have a beneficial effect on anxiety in adults with cancer, with an average anxiety reduction of 7.73 units on the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory scale (score range: 20–80) and -0.76 standardised units on other anxiety scales (considered a moderate to large effect).

Further, 12 studies found music interventions may reduce depression in adults with cancer. The results of a single study suggest music therapy may help adolescents and young adults employ positive coping strategies during stem cell transplant, a high‐risk and high‐intensity treatment. There was no evidence of effect for distress or mood.

The results of 2 studies suggest music interventions may increase hope in adult cancer patients by an average of 3.19 units on the Herth Hope Index (score range: 12–48).

As for the effect of music on physical symptoms in adults, the results of 12 trials suggest music has a moderate pain‐reducing effect of -0.67 standardised units. Music interventions also had a small effect on fatigue (-0.28 standardised units). The results of a single study suggest similar pain‐reducing effects in children. Listening to music may reduce heart rate up to an average of 3–4 beats per minute in adults. However, there was no evidence for an effect of music on other physiological responses, physical functioning or length of hospital stay.