Pain Management Support Study for Patients With Advanced Cancer

Summary

Chronic pain is one of the most feared symptoms in people with cancer. Insufficient relief from pharmacological treatments and the fear of side effects are important reasons for the growing use of complementary pain management approaches in cancer care. On such approach is music therapy. Although several studies have demonstrated that music therapy interventions can reduce pain in people with cancer, few studies have examined the therapeutic mechanisms that explain how music therapy interventions lead to improved pain management. The purpose of this study is to examine whether an interactive music therapy intervention improves psychological and social factors that play an important role in chronic pain management in people with advanced cancer. The findings will contribute towards the optimization of music therapy for palliation of chronic pain in people with advanced cancer.

Conditions

• Advanced Cancer

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

Interactive Music Therapy

Six 45-minute individual interactive music therapy (IMT) sessions delivered by a board-certified music therapist. Sessions start with music-guided breathing, imagery, or humming. The music therapist then engages the participant in singing of familiar songs and co-created vocal or instrumental music improvisations based on patient needs. Discussion about the meaning assigned to songs and emotions expressed through the improvisations follow. The IMT experiences are aimed at facilitating emotional expression, offering support through interactive music making, and strengthening inner resources of creativity. In addition, each week the participant learns music-based techniques for self-management of anxiety, stress, mood, and pain.

BEHAVIORAL

Verbal support

Six 45-minute individual sessions delivered by a master's level clinician with training in counseling. The sessions are focused on patient-initiated conversations about their pain, life stressors and the impact on their daily life. The intervener provides nondirective, supportive care by offering supportive, validating statements and reflective listening. The intervener refrains from employing active suggestion, problem-solving or behavioral or cognitive therapy techniques. The verbal support sessions are aimed at providing an empathic, therapeutic environment to facilitate emotional expression and sharing of worries and fears.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR)

  collaborator NIH

• Drexel University

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Joke Bradt, PhD · Drexel University

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

SUPPORTIVE_CARE

Masking

NONE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2018-02-01

Primary Completion

2021-12-31

Completion

2021-12-31

Countries

• United States

Study Locations