Music Intervention Research Articles

Efficacy of 15-minute music intervention on nursing students' anxiety, self-efficacy, and performance in simulation testing: A randomized study

BackgroundAnxiety can negatively impact nursing students' confidence and performance during simulation-based training, leading to suboptimal learning outcomes. SampleThe study included 102 prelicensure Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) students. The participants (µage = 21.72, SD = 3.14), mostly female (n = 85, 83.33%) and Caucasian (n = 67, 65.69%), were randomized into control (n = 51) and experimental (n = 51) groups. MethodParticipants in the control group prepared for simulation as they usually would, while those in the experimental group listened to 15-minutes of classical music before their simulation sessions. Anxiety, self-efficacy, and instructor-assigned performance ratings during the simulation were evaluated. ResultsThe experimental group experienced significantly lower anxiety, increased self-efficacy, and higher performance scores compared to the control group (p-values < .001 for all measures). ConclusionThese results suggest that a 15-minute music-listening intervention could effectively reduce anxiety, boost self-efficacy, and improve performance during simulation-based training.

Creation of Music-Induced Analgesia in Chronic Pain Patients through Endogenous Opioid Production: A Narrative Review

Chronic pain affects over 30% of the global population, and reliance on external drugs for treatment has led to major issues, including the present opioid epidemic. A healthier option is necessary, which is why music therapy’s analgesic effects have been extensively studied within the last 20 years. Not only is music relatively harmless but given that chronic pain patients require repeated treatment, musical intervention is far more accessible and economical. While the mechanisms underlying music-induced analgesia are relatively unclear, the production of endogenous opioids while listening to music through both the descending pain modulatory circuit and the limbic system, is postulated to play this role. This review describes the brain regions and pathways by which music may trigger the release of endogenous opioids such as enkephalins, endorphins, and dynorphins. More importantly, it discusses the cellular mechanisms through which these neuropeptides are thought to mediate pleasure-induced analgesia in chronic pain patients.

Feasibility, Experiences and Short-Term Outcomes on Challenging Behaviour and Well-Being of a Partially Online Music Intervention Pilot Study for Adults With Intellectual Disabilities.

During the COVID-19 pandemic we implemented a partially online music intervention to examine the feasibility, experiences and short-term outcomes on the challenging behaviour and well-being of adults with intellectual disabilities. This mixed-methods study included 10 participants with mild or moderate intellectual disabilities who received 16 one-hour individual music sessions in 10 weeks, either face-to-face or online. Data on feasibility and experiences from participants and music workers were collected and analysed using inductive thematic analysis. Challenging behaviour and well-being were measured before and after intervention. Overall experiences were positive and concerned appreciation, positive feelings, musical abilities, attention span, relatedness and personalisation. Online experiences varied, but most participants preferred face-to-face over online sessions. After the intervention, challenging behaviour scores were better than before. Engaging in a partially online music intervention is feasible for people with intellectual disabilities and seems to improve challenging behaviour. Experiences are discussed and recommendations for future online sessions are provided.

Enhancing the mental health of refugees and asylum seekers through music interventions

Enhancing the mental health of refugees and asylum seekers through music interventions

Computational elucidation of non-verbal behavior and body language in music therapy

Abstract Music therapy has shown efficacy in serious and chronic conditions, mental disorders, and disabilities. However, there is still much to explore regarding the mechanisms through which music interventions exert their effects. A typical session involves interactions between the therapist, the client and the musical work itself, and to help address the challenges of capturing and comprehending its dynamics, we extend our general computational paradigm (CP) for analyzing the expressive and social behavioral processes in arts therapies. The extension includes bodily and non-verbal aspects of the behavior, offering additional insights into the client’s emotional states and engagement. We have used this version of the CP, which employs AI pose estimation technology, image processing and audio analysis, to capture therapy-related psychometrics and their intra- and inter-session analysis. The CP is applied in a real world proof-of-concept study, and the results enable us to pinpoint meaningful events and emergent properties not captured by the human eye, complementing the therapist’s interpretations. The resulting data may also be useful in other scientific and clinical areas.

Effect of an early music intervention on emotional and neurodevelopmental outcomes of preterm infants at 12 and 24 months

BackgroundFew studies have found long-term effects of early musical environmental enrichment in the NICU on preterm infant’s development. This study examines how early music enrichment affects emotional development and effortful control abilities in 12- and 24-month-old very preterm (VPT) infants.MethodsOne hundred nineteen newborns were recruited, including 83 VPTs and 36 full-term (FT) infants. The VPT infants were randomly assigned to the music intervention (44 VPT-Music) or control (39 VPT-control) groups. VPT-Music infants listened specifically designed music intervention from the 33rd week of gestation until hospital discharge. At 12 and 24 months, children were clinically evaluated using the Bayley-III Scales of Infant and Toddler Development and the Laboratory Temperament Assessment Battery, and at 24 months, with 3 additional episodes of the Effortful Control Battery.Results and discussionOur analysis showed that during a fear eliciting task, the VPT-Music group expressed lower level of fear reactivity and higher positive motor actions than VPT-controls and FT infants. At 24 months, the VPT-music group had lower scores for negative motor actions in the joy task, compared to both VPT-control and FT groups. In addition, both FT and VPT-music had higher scores of sustained attention compared to VPT-controls, but the contrasts were not significant. No significant effects on mental, language and motor outcomes were identified and for all three dimensions of the ECBQ.ConclusionThe present study suggests that an early music intervention in the NICU might influence preterm children’s emotional processing at 12 and 24 months. Limitations and suggestions for future research are highlighted.

Music and Sleep Hygiene Interventions for Pregnancy-Related Insomnia: An Online Randomized Controlled Trial.

Approximately 50% to 60% of all pregnant women suffer from insomnia during pregnancy. Pregnancy-related insomnia has been associated with severe outcomes for both mother and child postnatally. Currently, the treatment of pregnancy-related insomnia is often neglected due to a lack of suitable treatments. This online assessor-masked randomized controlled trial aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of music listening and sleep hygiene for treating pregnancy-related insomnia. We recruited first-time pregnant women at the end of the second trimester with a report of poor sleep. Participants in the music and sleep hygiene (MSH) group received standard sleep hygiene advice and were instructed to listen to music daily at bedtime for 4 weeks. They could choose from 6 sleep playlists of different genres. Participants randomized to the sleep hygiene alone (SH) group received standard sleep hygiene only. Primary outcomes were sleep quality measured with the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and insomnia severity measured with the Insomnia Severity Index. gov Identifier: NCT04633395. Among the 98 participants receiving the online intervention, 31 participants in the MSH group (62%) and 40 participants in the SH group (80%) completed the postintervention measurements. Both groups experienced improved sleep quality during the intervention period (PSQI change, -2.10; 95% CI, -3.27 to -0.93; P <.001), with no significant difference between the groups. Similarly, insomnia symptoms were reduced (Insomnia Severity Index change, -3.42; 95% CI, -5.02 to -1.83; P <.001) with no significant difference in the effect between groups. There was a significant difference in adherence to sleep hygiene between the MSH and SH groups (42% vs 8%; P =.007). Sleep quality and insomnia severity can be improved in pregnant women with relatively simple interventions like music listening and sleep hygiene advice. These results align with previous research, but larger trials are recommended to support introduction into clinical practice.

The Effect of Online Music Therapy Interventions on Reducing Stress Levels in Small Hotel Managers: A Mixed-Methods Pilot Study

Abstract The rapidly changing business environment and increasing uncertainties due to the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic since 2020 have led to heightened stress levels among managers. This study employed a mixed-method design to examine the effects of online music therapy interventions on reducing stress levels in small hotel managers. Thirteen managers participated in the online music therapy program, which consisted of six weekly music therapy sessions and self-guided music interventions for practice during the week. The music therapy interventions included music-assisted relaxation, improvisation, music listening with drawing, moving with music, song discussion, songwriting, and singing. The intake questionnaire collected participants’ demographic information and musical backgrounds. The Thai Perceived Stress Scale-10 (T-PSS-10) and Visual Analog Scale of Stress (VAS-S) were used to measure perceived stress levels. A paired t-test analysis compared the average participants’ perceived stress scores between pre and post-tests. Results demonstrated a significant reduction in perceived stress scores. Both the VAS-S for music therapy interventions and self-guided music interventions showed significant decreases after participation in each music therapy session and self-guided practice. In conclusion, online music therapy interventions can effectively reduce the perceived stress levels of managers facing uncertainty in small hotel businesses.

Dedicated low-cost electronic ocarina for people with COPD: Rationale and prototype development

ABSTRACT Introduction Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a condition characterized by airflow obstruction which can lead to physical and psychosocial challenges, with a higher prevalence in developing countries. Non-pharmacological interventions for this group of people include pulmonary rehabilitation as well as music interventions. Although music technology was recommended to adjust to the user’s breathing capacity for music-making and to gather information about their performance, music therapy trials used acoustic wind instruments for their rehabilitation. This interdisciplinary project aims to develop a dedicated electronic wind instrument for people with COPD. Method This project follows a systematic prototype methodology that includes product research, instrument development, and user validation. Based in Brazil, our team has decided on an electronic ocarina based on its cultural features, its popularity as a digital application, and its potential for respiratory training. Unlike existing technologies, the prototype intends to be dedicated and a low-cost solution. Results The development process includes decision making about the appropriate mouthpiece, sensors, Arduino, pushbuttons, 3-D printing projects, building a MIDI interface and a dedicated software. This is an ongoing project, and our team is in the MIDI interface development stage. We aim to run the first hardware trial with users so that we can integrate their feedback into the functional prototype and the dedicated software for the following trials. Discussion This project’s strengths rely on the innovation of building viable electronic wind instruments that can facilitate self-management of people with COPD in developing countries, where access to healthcare can be challenging.

Implementation of music in the perioperative standard care of colorectal surgery (IMPROVE study).

Patients undergoing surgery experience perioperative anxiety and pain. Music has been shown to reduce perioperative anxiety, pain and medication requirement. This study assessed the feasibility and effectiveness of implementing a perioperative music intervention. A prospective pre- and post-implementation pilot study was conducted to assess adherence to the intervention and the initial effect of music on postoperative pain scores (Numerical Rating Scale, 0-10) compared to a control group. Secondary outcomes encompassed pain scores throughout hospital admission, anxiety levels, medication usage, complications and hospital stay length. Adherence to the music intervention was preoperative 95.2%, intraoperative 95.7%, postoperative 31.9% and overall 29.7%. The intervention did influence postoperative pain. Patient's willingness to receive music was high (73%), they appreciated the intervention (median 8.0, interquartile range 7.0-9.0) and healthcare professionals were willing to apply the intervention. Music significantly reduced postoperative anxiety (2.0 vs. 3.0, p = 0.02) and the consumption of benzodiazepines on the first postoperative day (number of patients: zero [0%] vs. five [10%], p = 0.04). Implementation of music resulted in reduced postoperative anxiety and decreased consumption of benzodiazepines, and the strategy was feasible, but adjustments are needed to improve postoperative adherence. Both patients and healthcare professionals had a positive attitude towards the intervention.

Music Therapy for Pain Management for People With Advanced Cancer: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

To improve mechanistic understanding, this randomized controlled trial examined anxiety, mood, emotional support, and pain-related self-efficacy as mediators of music therapy for pain management in people with advanced cancer. People with advanced cancer who had chronic pain were randomized (1:1) to 6 weekly individual music therapy or social attention control sessions. We measured mediators and pain outcomes (pain interference and pain intensity) using self-report measures at baseline, session 4, and post-intervention. We included outcome expectancy/treatment credibility, music reward, adult playfulness, and baseline pain interference and pain intensity as moderators. Participants (n=92) had a mean age of 56years. Most were female (71.7%), white (47.8%) or Black (39.1%), and had stage IV cancer (75%). Self-efficacy was found to be a significant mediator of music therapy for pain intensity (indirect effect ab=0.79, 95% CI 0.01-1.82) and pain interference (indirect effect ab=1.16, 95% CI 0.02-2.51), while anxiety, mood, and emotional support were not. The mediating effect of pain-related self-efficacy was significantly moderated by baseline pain interference but not by the other moderators. The findings suggest that the impact of music therapy on chronic pain is mediated by self-efficacy. This knowledge can help optimize music therapy interventions for chronic pain management for people with advanced cancer by capitalizing on teaching music-based self-management strategies. ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT03432247.

AN IMMEDIATE EFFECT OF BRISK WALKING WITH OR WITHOUT MUSIC THERAPY IN REDUCING MENSTRUAL PAIN AMONG YOUTH WITH PRIMARY DYSMENORRHEA

Background: Dysmenorrhea divides into two type’s primary dysmenorrhea (PD) and secondary dysmenorrhea (SD). Dysmenorrhea with absence of pelvic abnormality is termed primary dysmenorrhea (PD) and is likely experience among young women population aged between 15 to 25 years. Despite the effectiveness of the exercise on managing PD, the immediate result of the intervention towards pain was not signified. The study aimed to evaluate the immediate effect of Brisk Walking (BW) with or without Music Therapy (MT) in reducing menstrual pain among youth with primary dysmenorrhea. Material and methods: This experimental study involving 102 female subjects with primary dysmenorrhea aged between 18 to 25 years were divided into two equal groups: a Brisk Walking group (n=51), and Brisk Walking with Music Therapy group (n=51). The menstrual pain was assessed using the Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) for pre and post-test taken within 2 menstrual cycle period. The Maximum Heart Rate of each subject were calculated prior Brisk Walking and exercise was conducted within 60 -70% of the individual’s Maximum Heart Rate for 20 minutes. The Music Therapy was completed in their home with music provided by researcher for 20 minutes duration. Results: The data was assessed using the Paired T-test and Independent T-test. The result within the group showed significant value with p&lt;0.05 in both groups. Comparison between groups also showed significant difference p&lt;0.05. Conclusion: A greater improvement was seen in the Brisk Walking with Music Therapy intervention group in managing primary dysmenorrhea. In specific, it is also proven that both study groups, Brisk Walking and Brisk Walking with Music Therapy promote pain reduction.

Research on the intervention effect of Five-Element Music combined with Eight-Section Brocade on depression among medical students in higher vocational colleges.

Depression is the main risk factor leading to suicidal ideation among college students. This study focused on observing and assessing how the combination of Five-Element Music and Eight-Section Brocade affected depression levels among medical students attending higher vocational colleges. From a total of 1,030 medical students studying in higher vocational colleges, we selected 160 students who showed depressive symptoms and met the specific criteria for the study. We used the SDS scale to identify these students and made them the participants of our experiment. Participants were randomly divided into four groups: the music intervention group (listening to traditional Chinese Five-Element Music for 15 min daily), the Eight-Section Brocade intervention group (practicing the Eight-Section Brocade exercises once daily, approximately 15 min), the combined intervention group (first practicing the Eight-Section Brocade exercises once, then listening to music for 15 min), and the control group (no intervention). Each group consisted of 40 participants. The three intervention groups (excluding the control group) underwent continuous intervention for 4 weeks. The SDS, SAS, and PSQI scales were used for evaluation before and after the intervention. Except for the control group, the SDS, SAS, and PSQI scores of the other three groups were lower after the intervention than before the intervention (p < 0.01). After the treatment, the scores on SDS, SAS, and PSQI tests did not vary much between the students who listened to music and those who practiced Eight-Section Brocade (the difference was not statistically significant, p > 0.05). However, the students who did both music and Eight-Section Brocade showed significantly lower scores than those who did only one activity (both p < 0.01). Five-Element Music and Eight-Section Brocade can improve depression, anxiety, and sleep status among medical students in higher vocational colleges. The combined intervention of the two is more effective than a single method, and it is worth promoting and applying in higher vocational colleges. https://www.chictr.org.cn/showproj.html?proj=210705.

Complementary Musical Intervention for Patients in Palliative Care in Spain: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Patients with advanced cancer often endure a heavy burden of symptoms, both in quantity and intensity. Complementary therapies offer potential relief in this challenging scenario. Increasing the number of randomized controlled trials provides a unique opportunity to generate rigorous data, which can be used to establish causal relationships and evaluate interventions; hence, nurses can strengthen evidence-based practices, leading to better patient outcomes and quality of care. Our study aimed to evaluate the impact of a 7-day pre-recorded music intervention on cancer symptoms and satisfaction in advanced-stage cancer patients receiving palliative care at home. This multicenter, double-blind, randomized, controlled clinical trial involved 80 Spanish cancer patients receiving palliative care at home, and was conducted from July 2020 to November 2021. The intervention group (n = 40) received self-selected pre-recorded music for 30 min daily over 7 days. The control group (n = 40) received pre-recorded basic health education sessions of equal duration and frequency. Symptoms and patient satisfaction were assessed before and after the intervention using the Edmonton Symptom Assessment System and the Client Satisfaction Questionnaire, respectively. Comparing the intervention with the control group, significant improvements were observed in various symptoms: total symptom burden (p < 0.001), pain (p = 0.001), fatigue (p = 0.007), depression (p = 0.001), anxiety (p = 0.005), drowsiness (p = 0.006), appetite (p = 0.047), well-being (p ≤ 0.001), and sleep (p < 0.001); additionally, patient satisfaction was higher in the intervention group (p < 0.001). The 7-day pre-recorded music intervention reduced both physical and psychological symptoms in advanced-stage cancer patients receiving home-based palliative care, demonstrating significant alleviation of overall symptom burden and increased satisfaction with healthcare.

Study protocol of a randomized control trial on the effectiveness of improvisational music therapy for autistic children.

Music therapy is the clinical use of musical interventions to improve mental and physical health across multiple domains, including social communication. Autistic children, who have difficulties in social communication and often increased anxiety, tend to show a strong preference for music, because it can be structured and systematic, and therefore more predictable than social interaction. This makes music therapy a promising medium for therapeutic support and intervention. Previous clinical trials of music therapy compared to traditional therapy for autistic children have shown encouraging but nevertheless mixed results. The primary aim is to conduct a randomised controlled trial (RCT) of improvisational music therapy for autistic children and test its effectiveness in at improving social communication and wellbeing, and to reduce anxiety. The RCT will be conducted with 200 autistic children in the UK aged 7 to 11 years old. Participants will be randomly assigned to either improvisational music therapy or support as usual. The trial will be an assessor-blind, pragmatic two-arm cluster RCT comparing the impact of 12-weeks of improvisational music therapy in addition to support as usual, vs. support as usual for autistic children. Researchers who are blind to which arm the children are in will conduct assessments and obtain data via caregiver reports. The primary outcome will be the absolute change in the total score of the Brief Observation of Social Communication Change (BOSCC) assessed at baseline, T1 (13weeks) and T2 (39weeks) follow-ups. The BOSCC consists of specific items that were developed to identify changes in social-communication behaviours. Secondary outcome measures include: (1) Parent reported anxiety scale for youth with ASD (Note that we do not use the term 'ASD' or Autism Spectrum Disorder, because many autistic people feel it is stigmatising. Instead, we use the term 'autism')(PRAS-ASD) (2) Young Child Outcome Rating Scale, for wellbeing (YCORS), (3) Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ); and (4) Vineland Adaptive Behaviour Scale (VABS). (5) The Children's Communication Checklist-2 (CCC-2) will be completed to evaluate pragmatic speech with fluent speakers only; (6) The Music Engagement Scale (MES); and (7) Assessment of the Quality of Relationship (AQR) will be used to evaluate the child-therapist relationships using video-analysis of music therapy sessions. Additional data will be collected by administering the Wechsler Abbreviated Scale of Intelligence (WASI-II), Music at Home Questionnaire (M@H), and children's versions of the Empathy Quotient (EQ) and Systemizing Quotient (SQ). Audio and video data from the therapy sessions will be collected and analysed (using both human and computer-based feature-coding, e.g., machine learning and AI-driven methods) to identify how music and non-musical interactions foster change throughout the therapy. This study aims to observe if the interactions, engagement, and therapeutic modalities fostered during music therapy sessions can translate to non-musical contexts and improve autistic children's social communication skills, identifying possible mediating factors contributing to the effectiveness of music therapy, potentially informing policy making and governance. This randomised control trial is registered with the NIH U.S. National Library of Medicine: https://clinicaltrials.gov/search?term=NCT06016621 , clinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT0601662, Registration Date 19th August 2023.

Impact of daily music on comfort scores in preterm infants: a randomized controlled trial.

Premature birth heightens neurodevelopmental risks, theorized to partly stem from altered sensory inputs and disrupted sleep patterns. Modifying the acoustic milieu through music intervention (MI) offers promise to improve neonatal comfort, reduce sleep disturbances, and stabilize physiological parameters. This study explores the impact of non-pharmacological MI on these health indicators within the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). A single-blinded RCT was conducted. Premature infants (34 > GA > 29 wks) were randomly assigned to either receive 8 min of daily MI or placebo for up to 15 days. Validated behavioral comfort scores were visually obtained by a blinded observer before and after intervention. Additionally, physiological signs (HR, RR, SatO2) were recorded. Differences between the groups were analyzed using χ² tests and t-tests. In total 56 preterm infants were included. After intervention, comfort levels increased significantly in the MI compared to placebo group (p = 0.000). Neonates receiving MI transitioned from wakefulness to a state of sleep significantly more compared to placebo (p = 0.002). Physiological parameters remained stable. This study adds to existing literature demonstrating that a music intervention in a NICU setting can enhance comfort and sleep of premature infants without adversely affecting physiological parameters. The study demonstrates that music interventions (MI) in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) setting can significantly increase comfort levels and positively impact the sleep of premature infants without negatively impacting their physiological parameters. This research increases evidence for non-pharmacological interventions, specifically music, as beneficial for the well-being of premature infants in NICU settings. It replicates and expands upon previous methodological designs, providing more robust evidence of MI's positive effects on this vulnerable population. The positive outcomes of music intervention could influence hospital policies by integrating non-pharmacological practices into standard neonatal care protocols to enhance developmental support for premature infants.

Theoretically grounded music therapy interventions for people with obsessive compulsive disorder

Over two percent of adults experience obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) in their lifetime, and research on novel, effective treatments for this condition is needed. OCD is characterized by obsessions and compulsions spanning several domains including but not limited to cleanliness, evenness, and unacceptable or disturbing thoughts. Although there is a deficit of research on music therapy for people with OCD, preliminary research has indicated that music-based interventions and music therapy can help decrease anxiety, rigidity, obsessions, and compulsions in people with OCD. The purpose of this paper was to explore and develop music therapy interventions for people with OCD grounded in theories and concepts related to this diagnosis. The authors conducted a narrative literature review of interdisciplinary research on music therapy and OCD. In this manuscript, the authors reviewed three theories and concepts related to OCD and their applications to music therapy: evaluative conditioning, incompleteness and not just right experiences, and transdiagnostic theory. The authors used these theories to develop music therapy interventions to address areas of life that can be impacted by OCD identified in the Cognitive Assessment Instrument of Obsessions and Compulsions. Empirical research is needed to determine the efficacy, practicality, and generalizability of proposed music therapy interventions.

Interventional Analysis of Music Therapy on Emotional Behavior in Children with Autism

Music therapy, as an emerging field of rehabilitation, has been studied by many people. However, it only proves the effectiveness of music therapy in addressing emotional and behavioral issues in children with autism, and there are no specific strategies and methods applicable to special education schools for reference. This study attempts to address this issue. This study adopted a cross subject multi trial design in a single subject experimental method, with music therapy as the independent variable. Using the emotional behavior of these four autistic children who cried for no reason as the dependent variable, data was collected during the baseline, intervention, and maintenance periods to verify the intervention effect of music therapy on emotional behavior. The research results indicate that music therapy has immediate, sustained, and generalized effects on typical emotional and behavioral problems in children with autism. After music therapy intervention, the frequency of emotional and behavioral problems in each of the four autistic children decreased significantly, their self-control ability improved significantly, and language interaction was significantly prolonged. Based on the observation of student expressions and actions, participation statistics, and family interviews, it can be seen that students are interested in the environment of visual music, rhythm training, and situational music. The correct grasp of the core concepts of music therapy and timely feedback on intervention content play a crucial role in the treatment effect in this study.

Salivary cortisol and alpha-amylase as stress markers to evaluate an individualized music intervention for people with dementia: feasibility and pilot analyses

ObjectivesWe investigated salivary biomarkers of stress, more specifically, cortisol and alpha-amylase, to evaluate effects of individualized music listening (IML) in people with dementia.MethodParticipants were N = 64 nursing home residents with dementia (meanage = 83.53 ± 7.71 years, 68.8% female). Participants were randomly assigned to either listening to their favorite music every other day for a period of six weeks (intervention), or standard care (control). Using the Saliva Children`s Swab (SCS), saliva was collected before, after, and 20 min after IML sessions at the beginning and end of the intervention period for the analysis of salivary alpha-amylase and cortisol.ResultsUsing the SCS was feasible in people with dementia. Nevertheless, there was no effect of IML on salivary stress markers.DiscussionAlthough using SCS was feasible, active patient engagement is required. Future studies need to corroborate findings in larger samples.Trial registrationGerman Clinical Trials Register: DRKS00015641, ISRCTN registry: ISRCTN59052178.

Music Perception and Music-Related Quality of Life in Adult Cochlear Implant Users: Exploring the Need for Music Rehabilitation.

Cochlear implant (CI) users face difficulties in accurately perceiving basic musical elements such as pitch, melody, and timbre. Music significantly affects the quality of life (QoL) of CI users. Individually and culturally influenced music perception exceeds psychophysical measures in capturing the subjective music enjoyment of CI users. Understanding the music perception, enjoyment, and habits of CI users is crucial for approaches to improve music-related QoL (MuRQoL). Therefore, this study aims to investigate music perception skills, experiences, and participation in music activities in a large group of adult CI users, and to understand the importance of these factors and their impact on QoL of CI users. This study included 214 CI recipients with diverse auditory experiences who were aged between 18 and 65 years and were unilateral, bimodal, or bilateral users for at least 1 year and 193 normal hearing (NH) controls. All participants completed the information forms and the MuRQoL questionnaire. To assess the impact of music on QoL and identify personalized rehabilitation needs, the scores for each question in both parts of the questionnaire were intersected on a matrix. Data were presented in detail for the CI group and compared between CI and NH groups. A statistically significant difference was found between the matched CI and NH groups in favor of the NH group in terms of music perception and music engagement. Participants who received music education at any point in their lives had significantly higher MuRQoL questionnaire scores. There was no significant relationship found between the duration of auditory rehabilitation, pre-CI hearing aid usage, music listening modality, and MuRQoL questionnaire scores. Unilateral CI users had significantly lower scores in music perception and music engagement subsections compared with bimodal and bilateral CI users. Also, it was found that music had a strong negative impact on QoL in 67/214 of the CI users. Although CI users scored significantly lower than NH individuals on the first part of the questionnaire, which asked about musical skills, enjoyment, and participation in musical activities, findings suggest that CI users value music and music enjoyment just as much. The study reveals the influence of factors such as education level, age, music education, type of hearing loss and auditory rehabilitation on music perception, music enjoyment, and participation in music activities through self-report. The results indicate that for many CI users, music has a strong negative impact on QoL, highlighting the need for personalized music interventions, the inclusion of self-report questionnaires, and music perception tests in clinical evaluations.