Abstract:
Background. Cancer is considered as one of the most serious illnesses and is the second most common cause of death in the industrial countries causing significant physical and psychological burden on patients. Music therapy is one supportive therapy among others by which different effects on humans can be achieved with music. This thesis examined the effects of a sound-bed-intervention on psychological well-being and resilience in oncology, measured with questionnaires, as well as on physiological parameters such as heart rate variability, respiration, blood volume pulse, skin conductance response or cortisol changes. To this day, only a few studies to similar instruments, like the monochord, exist. However, the effects of the sound-bed have not been examined in a study until now.
Methods – Study 1. Data collection, designed as a pilot study, was intended to develop further hypothesis for the following studies 2 and 3. Therefore, 16 test subjects were interviewed about their well-being (Basler Mood Questionnaire, BBS and five more self-created questions) before and after the music intervention (duration of music = 10 minutes) in an open-label, bicentrical clinical trial without any control group. s.o.
Results – Study 1. The well-being of the oncology patients showed a significant increase, represented by the subscales of BBS like inner balance, vitality, vigilance or the total sum. However, social extroversion showed no statistically significant changes. Warmth distribution, body warmth as well as satisfaction with the health status showed a significant increase and actual mood rose marginal significantly. A change in pain intensity was not found.
Methods – Study 2. Based on the results of the Study 1, the effect of the sound-bed on oncology patients (n = 48) was studied using a randomized, controlled crossover design. Measurements lasted about 45 minutes. In the central 10 minutes, depending on the music or the control condition, live music was played or silence prevailed correspondingly. The other condition took place after 24 hours. As in study 1, the same parameters were measured and beside them, health related quality of life was evaluated? In contrast to the control condition, major pre-post-changes were expected in terms of less stress and more relaxation respectively the music condition.
Results – Study 2. As in study 1, significant changes were found in total sum, inner balance, vitality and vigilance of the BBS as well as for the warmth distribution, body warmth, actual mood and satisfaction with the health status of the additional questions. As expected, no significant effect of social extroversion and subjective pain perception occurred. Quality of life of the participants was below the comparable healthy group as well as below the comparable group of oncology patients named in the manual.
Methods – Study 3. Investigating immediate effects of a sound-bed, the focus of study 3 was the data collection of physiological parameters (heart rate variability, skin temperature, skin conductance response, cortisol, blood volume pulse). The effect of the sound-bed was measured using healthy individuals (n = 30) working on the oncology ward using the randomized, controlled crossover design. The design of study 3 followed very closely the one described for study 2. Additionally, the well-being of participants was measured. Questionnaires addressing the case history, health related quality of life (Short Form Health Survey, SF-12) or coherence (Sense of Coherence, SOC) should give an overview of the participants and could be used as diagnostic criteria. In the music condition, pre-post-changes were expected in terms of less stress and more relaxation respectively than expected for the control condition.
Results – Study 3. Corresponding to the previous studies 2 and 3, similar changes of psychological parameters can be stated. SOC and SF-12 of the participants came very close to those of healthy control subjects of the manuals. During both conditions, heart rate decreased significantly. For the heart rate variability-parameters, the expected significant changes failed to appear. Skin temperature and skin conductance response showed a similar decrease in both conditions; for the parameters blood volume pulse, cortisol and respiratory rate, no stronger effects could be found comparing music condition to the control condition.
Discussion. The use of the sound-bed seems to be a promising approach to promote the well-being of humans. The subsequent strengthening of resilience in oncology patients could positively influence their recovery.
At least partially, the results of the physiological parameters demonstrated a relaxing as well as a focusing effect of the sound-bed.