NURS FPX 8004 Assessment 3 Annotated Bibliography

The author searched multiple electronic databases, including PubMed/MEDLINE, The Cochrane, and CINAHL, for literature on music therapy and oncology. Searches were restricted to articles published in 2023, 2024, and 2025, and available in English. Only peer-reviewed articles were included. Searches focused on the following terms and phrases: music therapy oncology; music therapy and anxiety; oncology non-pharmacologic; music therapy oncology group; oncology chemotherapy patient wellbeing. The initial search resulted in over 150 articles. Inclusion criteria focused on articles that addressed adult oncology patients, group music therapy, and the outcomes of anxiety and the associated psychological well-being. Articles that addressed pediatric patients, pharmacologic interventions, non-chemotherapy interventions, or duplicate publications were excluded. The author relied on the remaining eight publications to create an annotated bibliography. The remaining publications were randomized controlled trials, systematic reviews, and qualitative studies. All supported the author’s initiative to implement music therapy in outpatient oncology chemotherapy.

Annotated Bibliography

He, Y. L., Qian, C. N., Chen, J. Z., Chen, J. Y., Chen, K. J., Chen, Y. Y., Dong, X. T., Guan, N. H., Guo, Z. D., Hong, L., Huang, W., Jia, Y. B., Li, H. Y., Su, F. X., Li, S. R., Zhu, L. L., Li, Z. J., Leung, H. Y. A., Liang, Z. F., & Yuan, T. Z. (2026). CACA guidelines for music-based interventions in oncology. Holistic Integrative Oncology, 5(1), 45–67. https://doi.org/10.1007/s44178-025-00211-2

Research/QI: Research Design

We incorporated an understanding of the available literature on music therapy in oncology as part of our research with the oncology context of the outpatient chemotherapy process. A literature review on the impact of music therapy on adult outpatient chemotherapy patients was completed. Published literature, systematic reviews, and clinical research were surveyed. The literature reported anxiety reduction and improvement in the reported well-being of patients receiving Structured Group Music Therapy. The study highlighted the necessity for adjunct non-pharmaceutical interventions to standard chemotherapy within the holistic care continuum. The study emphasized the use of music therapy in conventional oncology practice and contributed to the continuous quality improvement process.

Hernandez, M. A., Cubeddu, L. X., & Paramo, J. C. (2026). Effects of music therapy in cancer patients undergoing infusion chemotherapy: A prospective cohort observational study. Supportive Care in Cancer, 34(4), 67–90. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-026-10560-x

Research/QI: Research Design

The effects of music therapy on oncology patients were studied using a retrospective cohort analysis of anxiety levels and overall wellness of adult patients receiving outpatient chemotherapy. Data were collected from the electronic health records and clinical databases of several health care systems in the United States that catered to adult chemotherapy patients experiencing treatment-related psychological distress. Patients were compared based on their receipt of music therapy interventions or their receipt of standard therapy with no psychosocial support. The study’s findings revealed that the outpatient oncology music therapy cohort had significantly lower anxiety levels and that overall emotional wellness was improved, compared to the standard care cohort. The findings of this study imply that music therapy interventions assist chemotherapy patients in emotional self-regulation, stress, and anxiety relief. Evidence to support the use of music therapy in outpatient oncology was provided by this study. The study documented the positive effects of music therapy in reducing outpatient oncology patients’ anxiety and improving the overall wellness of patients in the outpatient oncology setting.

Ramón, N. C., Arenillas, J. I. C., Valero, S. A., Guzmán, A. S., & Miralles, P. M. (2023). Psychosocial interventions for the treatment of cancer-related fatigue: An umbrella review. Current Oncology, 30(3), 2954–2977. https://doi.org/10.3390/curroncol30030226

Research/QI: Research Design

This paper seeks to summarize the most recent studies, clinical guidelines, and evidence-based recommendations on the use of psychosocial interventions within cancer treatment. Specific clinical research examines the use of either collaborative or individualized music therapy on the psychological state of patients undergoing infusion chemotherapy. Strong evidence was found on the palliative, dose-related effects of music therapy on patients undergoing chemotherapy. Additional evidence showed that patients demonstrated greater engagement and response, especially when music therapy was integrated within the infusion process. Evidence also illustrated the need for music therapy and psychosocial interventions in the framework of outpatient chemotherapy focused on the individual patient.

Asakawa, H. K. D., Spiegel, D., Bossert, L., Garic, A., Schwartz, K., Voracek, M., & Tran, U. S. (2026). Psychosocial interventions indicate prolonged survival in cancer patients in a systematic review, meta-analysis, and multiverse meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Communications Psychology, 6(3). https://doi.org/10.1038/s44271-026-00414-x

Research/QI: Research Design

The purpose of this study was to examine the alignment and variability of music therapy in the context of psychosocial support in outpatient infusion settings across different sites. This study sought to address the anxiety and emotional distress of cancer patients undergoing treatment and to identify the gaps in complementary psychosocial respite services. This study employed a semi-structured interview, targeting oncology nurses, and direct observation across different clinical settings. The information collected was then subjected to directed content analysis. It was found that there was a great deal of variation in supportive interventions, and that variation was mostly the product of the individual nurse and not related to the prescribed music and/or psychosocial interventions. This study sought to understand the variation in practice and how it impacted the support of anxious and emotionally distressed oncology patients during chemotherapy. The study emphasized the essential need to integrate music therapy within the context of psychosocial support in order to provide consistent support and best serve the emotionally distressed oncology patients.

Mertens, L., Tack, L., Boterberg, T., Fachner, J., Muller, R. L., Vandeweyer, M., Demasure, S., Hanssens, M., Loyson, T., Goethals, L., Kindts, I., Denys, H., Schofield, P., Najlah, M., & Debruyne, P. R. (2025). The use of tele-music interventions in supportive cancer care: A systematic review. Brain Sciences, 15(12), 12–66. https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci15121266

Research/QI: Research Design

This study was a multi-site qualitative research study of music therapy challenges for outpatient oncology chemotherapy. It was specifically about challenges for providing supportive care to adult cancer patients to help with anxiety and enhance their overall wellbeing. This study explored challenges for providing psychosocial support and the challenges for the provision of music therapy. The study used semi-structured interviews to collect data, and directed content analysis to analyze the data. The primary barriers were reported to be a lack of therapy resources and music therapy, a lack of specialized staff, staff shortages, time challenges, and a lack of administrative support. It was reported that due to these limitations, music therapy was not offered, and usual care was provided. The study reported a need to provide music therapy and integrate other supportive interventions in the oncology chemotherapy setting.

Ettenberger, M., Reyes, A. L., Díaz, A. M., Suárez, R., Amarillo, M., Naranjo, M., & Colmenares, M. C. C. (2025). Effect of group music therapy on state-anxiety and well-being levels of oncology patients undergoing chemotherapy: A multi-center randomized clinical trial. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 16(7), 556–667. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2025.1658503

Research/QI: Research Design

From a social network analysis perspective, the study aimed to assess the impact of music therapy on adult oncology patients receiving outpatient chemotherapy and the resultant changes to their anxiety and overall well-being. More specifically, the study investigated the provision of music therapy to patients and the interaction of different providers and the resultant therapy-related care and support to patients. The study focused on the communication and interdisciplinary cooperative networks within the oncology care networks. It was noted that there was minimal communication, coordination, and integration within and between networks of supportive oncology care therapy, and this may have addressed the supportive care needed to enhance the emotional outcomes of patients. The study sought to address the gap in the supportive care needed to facilitate the integration of music therapy in oncology care.

Vasco, A. S., Morales, J. T., Durán, R. C. I., Sánchez, L. Y. B., Amarillo, M., & Ettenberger, M. (2025). The impact of group music therapy on anxiety, stress, and well-being levels, and chemotherapy-induced side effects for oncology patients and their caregivers during chemotherapy: A retrospective cohort study. BioMed Central Complementary Medicine and Therapies, 25(1), 6678–8890. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12906-025-04837-7

Research/QI: Research Design

This study investigated the effects that music therapy has on people’s anxiety levels and overall health issues pertaining to nausea among adult oncology patients undergoing chemotherapy. The researchers focused on the application of music therapy to address emotional changes, of which they identified some of the variables related to the psychosocial outcomes of cancer therapy. The study involved a comparison of clinical data and patient-reported outcomes of those patients undergoing a regimen of structured music therapy versus those patients undergoing the regular/standard regimen of therapy. The results indicated that participants undergoing music therapy reported lower anxiety levels and greater emotional well-being. The results also identified an increased burden of symptoms and the participants’ increased age among those participants reporting a decreased emotional well-being. This study helps to strengthen the case for music therapy as a complementary adjunct to traditional oncology therapy to alleviate the emotional burden that patients experience during oncology therapy and to enhance the overall emotional experience of patients in making chemotherapy more tolerable.

Zang, L., Cheng, C., Zhou, Y., & Liu, X. (2023). Music therapy effect on anxiety reduction among patients with cancer: A meta-analysis. Frontiers in Psychology, 13(2), 234–239. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.1028934

Research/QI: Research Design

This article describes an anxiety reduction intervention directed to adult cancer patients in outpatient oncology. The objective of this narrative clinical review was to analyze the most recent studies, research, and clinical frameworks to articulate the need for an evidence-based and structured implementation of music therapy in the outpatient chemotherapy setting. Findings included the use of music therapy in the outpatient setting to reduce anxiety for participants as well as to improve the emotional self-regulation and the overall well-being of patients throughout chemotherapy sessions. The provision of an evidence-based framework was described to assist the quality-of-care improvement initiatives in outpatient oncology.