Complementary music therapy for cancer patients in at-home palliative care and their caregivers: protocol for a multicentre randomised controlled trial

• DOI: 10.1186/s12904-020-00570-9
• Publication Date: 2020-05-02T16:03:34Z
• Authors: Inmaculada Valero...; Francisco Javier ...; Milagrosa Espinar...; Cristina Casals; Francisco Javier ...; María Ángeles Váz...
• Keywords: Pain medicine; Family Caregivers; Caregiver Burden; Music Therapy

Abstract Background Patients with advanced cancer, receiving at-home palliative care, are subject to numerous symptoms that changeable and often require attention, a stressful situation also impacts on the family caregiver. It has been suggested music therapy may benefit both patient We propose study analyse efficacy cost utility of intervention programme, applied as complementary therapy, for cancer patients in care their caregivers, compared usual treatment. Method A randomised, double-blind, multicentre clinical trial will be performed caregivers. The population include two samples 40 41 Participants randomly assigned either group or control group. receive seven-day programme including sessions, while seven sessions (spoken word) therapeutic education. In this study, primary outcome measure is assessment patients’ symptoms, according Edmonton Symptom Assessment System, overload experienced by measured Caregiver Strain Index. secondary outcomes considered participants’ health-related quality life, satisfaction intervention, an economic valuation. Discussion This expected enhance our understanding cost-utility results project applicable transferrable practice home approach described can incorporated additional resource within comprehensive care. To knowledge, no previous high studies, based double-blind trial, have undertaken evaluate cost-effectiveness therapy. provide information support decision making, thereby improving management health resources use system. Trial registration COMTHECARE registered at Clinical Trials.gov, NCT04052074 . Registered 9 August, 2019.