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The effect of music therapy on the anxiety levels of women awaiting breast cancer surgery
(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2014) Palmer, Jaclyn Bradley, author; Lagasse, Blythe, advisor; Thaut, Michael, committee member; Walrond, John, committee member
Breast cancer is a leading cause of death in females. Women encountering the combination of surgery and prospective cancer may be faced with intense anxiety. As a familiar and aesthetic medium, music has the ability to ease anxiety, act as a diversion, and dispel the fear that accompanies the unknown (Stevens, 1990). The purpose of this study was to assess the effects of live and recorded music on the perceived anxiety of women awaiting breast cancer surgery. In this study, 86 women were randomized into a control and two experimental groups. Treatment groups received either live or recorded preferred music in addition to standard care in the preoperative unit, while the control group received standard care alone. A one-way ANOVA comparison revealed that the addition of either live or recorded music facilitated by a board certified music therapist significantly reduced patient-perceived anxiety (p = 0.001) more than standard care alone. The findings here may provide a basis for future research where further evidence can be established by developing a more controlled alternative to 'standard care' and by investigating different surgical populations at a multitude of diverse medical institutions.