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Multisensory Interventions Reduce MRI Anxiety in Cancer Patients

NCT07692412 · Status: COMPLETED · Phase: NA · Type: INTERVENTIONAL · Enrollment: 152

Last updated 2026-07-09

No results posted yet for this study

Summary

MRI-related anxiety is prevalent among cancer patients and frequently undermines imaging quality by inducing motion artifacts or causing premature examination termination. Safe, non-pharmacological supportive interventions have the potential to alleviate procedural anxiety, yet the underlying neurobiological mechanisms remain unclear. This study aimed to investigate the anxiolytic effect of a combined multisensory intervention integrating music therapy and aromatherapy during MRI procedures, and to further explore its potential neurophysiological mechanisms via autonomic nervous system monitoring and resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI).

This study adopted a prospective, single-center, parallel-group randomized controlled trial design and was conducted at Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, between April 2025 and April 2026. Eligible participants were randomly allocated to four groups in equal proportions to receive routine care, music therapy alone, aromatherapy alone, or combined music and aromatherapy interventions. All study interventions were delivered consistently throughout the pre-MRI waiting period and the formal MRI scanning procedure, while participants in the control group received only standard clinical care without additional supportive intervention.

Conditions

  • Malignant Tumor (Cancer)
  • MRI Examination-induced Anxiety

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

Guzheng music therapy

Patients listen to the traditional Chinese guzheng piece Fishing Boat Singing at Dusk via MRI-compatible noise-isolating headphones continuously during MRI scanning. The music intervention starts after 10 minutes of baseline autonomic monitoring within the 20-minute pre-examination monitoring window.

BEHAVIORAL

Lavender aromatherapy

Two drops of pure Lavandula angustifolia essential oil are dripped onto an absorbent pad fixed to the patient's collar near the neck before MRI. Patients breathe normally to receive sustained lavender aroma stimulation throughout the entire scan, initiated after 10 minutes of baseline autonomic monitoring.

Sponsors & Collaborators

  • Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University

    lead OTHER

Study Design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
SUPPORTIVE_CARE
Masking
SINGLE
Model
FACTORIAL

Eligibility

Min Age
18 Years
Max Age
60 Years
Sex
ALL
Healthy Volunteers
No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start
2025-04-10
Primary Completion
2026-04-09
Completion
2026-04-10

Countries

  • China

Study Locations

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Read the full study record

This page highlights key information. For complete eligibility criteria, study locations, investigator contacts, and the full protocol, visit the original record on ClinicalTrials.gov.

View NCT07692412 on ClinicalTrials.gov