Methods: We used a randomized, parallel-group, controlled trial design and allocated the 60 enrolled participants. Randomly assigned to the experimental group and the control group, each group of 30. The experimental group listened to the MP3 player with headphones for 30 minutes of optional music during chemotherapy. The control group listened to the MP3 player for 30 minutes of ambient sound during the chemotherapy period. Subjects were tested for anxiety, salivary amylase, and finger temperature before, 6th, 12th, and 24th week of intervention.
Results: The demographic characteristics and anxiety levels, salivary amylase, finger temperature, and homogeneity tests of the two groups were not statistically significant (p>.05). The results showed significant differences between the two groups at week 12 and week 24 (p < .05). Moreover, the average score of listening to music anxiety in the experimental group was lower than that in the control group. Further by GEE analysis, there was a statistically significant difference (p < .05) showing interaction (group x time point). The effect of music on salivary amylase showed that the experimental group had a decrease in salivary amylase values compared with the pretests at the baseline values of music intervention measures, weeks 6 and 12, and 24 weeks. The control group was on the rise. The difference between the measured and post-tested finger temperatures at four time points was not statistically significant (P>.05) after the Paired t test.
Conclusion: Our results showed that music intervention can relieve anxiety in Cancer Patients Undergoing Chemotherapy. During the listen to music, the patient’s alpha amylase decreased, that confirming the patient in a relaxed state. Therefore music can be recommended to relax relieve anxiety symptoms as non-drug effective interventions.