Implementing video-based group music therapy during cancer treatment: insights from a mixed-methods study
Purpose: Music therapy is a beneficial supportive intervention in oncology. However, many patients undergoing cancer treatment face treatment-related physical impairments that limit participation in in-person sessions. This study explores the implementation of a video-based group music therapy inter...
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| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article (Journal) |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
25 March 2026
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| In: |
Supportive care in cancer
Year: 2026, Volume: 34, Issue: 4, Pages: 1-12 |
| ISSN: | 1433-7339 |
| DOI: | 10.1007/s00520-026-10601-5 |
| Online Access: | Verlag, kostenfrei, Volltext: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-026-10601-5
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| Author Notes: | Miriam Grapp, Charlotte Flock, Hans-Christoph Friederich, Till Johannes Bugaj |
| Summary: | Purpose: Music therapy is a beneficial supportive intervention in oncology. However, many patients undergoing cancer treatment face treatment-related physical impairments that limit participation in in-person sessions. This study explores the implementation of a video-based group music therapy intervention for patients undergoing tumour therapy. Methods: A mixed-methods, single-arm study was conducted with 40 adult cancer patients. The intervention consisted of eight 90-min video-based group music therapy sessions. Standardized questionnaires and open-ended questions were used pre- and post-intervention. Therapists provided structured feedback after each session. Evaluation was guided by the RE-AIM framework (Reach, Effectiveness, Adoption, Implementation, Maintenance). Results: Recruitment was efficient, with 40 of 44 screened patients enrolled. Attendance (90.1%) and completion (87.5%) rates were high. Participants rated the intervention as highly helpful (M = 4.77, SD = 0.49), with significant reductions in depression and anxiety (p < 0.001). In their feedback, patients frequently reported shared musical experiences and a sense of emotional closeness as particularly meaningful aspects of the sessions. Therapists observed strong group cohesion despite initial technical challenges. Follow-up data indicated continued use of music in daily life, suggesting lasting impact. Conclusion: Video-based group music therapy is a feasible and well-accepted intervention for patients undergoing cancer treatment. It addresses access barriers due to treatment-related physical impairments and supports continuity of care. The intervention showed promising results across RE-AIM dimensions, including symptom relief and integration into everyday life. Further studies should assess efficacy and explore adaptations for specific patient subgroups. Trial registration: German Clinical Trials Register (DRKS00032339) (registered August 3, 2023). |
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| Item Description: | Veröffentlicht: 25. März 2026 Gesehen am 29.04.2026 |
| Physical Description: | Online Resource |
| ISSN: | 1433-7339 |
| DOI: | 10.1007/s00520-026-10601-5 |