The effectiveness of live music intervention on psychological distress among adolescent and young adult patients undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation

ObjectiveTo explore the effects of live music to decrease psychological distress in adolescent and young adult (AYA) patients undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT).MethodA quasi-experimental study was conducted. Sixty patients undergoing HSCT were divided into two groups, receiving either 4 week of live music (n = 31) or standard care (n = 29). Psychological distress, anxiety, the severity of symptom clusters and symptom interference were measured.ResultsWhen compared with the immediately and 1 month after intervention, patients in LM intervention group had significantly lower psychological distress and anxiety level than wait-list group. AYA undergoing HSCT reported significantly milder general symptom cluster and neurological symptom cluster at T3 than at baseline.ConclusionsLive music intervention showed a positive effect on relieving psychological distress and anxiety in AYA patients undergoing HSCT. However, further researches are warranted to explore the effects of live music intervention on symptom cluster.