Tuesday, December 2, 2014

Music therapy in breast cancer

QUESTION: does music therapy with progressive muscle relaxation affect the levels of depression, anxiety and length of hospital stay in women with breast cancer patients undergoing radical mastectomy?

METHODS: 170 patients were evaluated. Half received the intervention and half received routine care. Music therapy with progressive muscle relaxation were performed twice a day.

RESULTS: the music therapy and muscle relaxation patients had significant improvement in depression, anxiety, and length of hospital stay.

COMMENT: this is a classic case of the Hawthorne bias. Interpret results with extreme skepticism.


Eur J Oncol Nurs. 2014 Aug 30;