The Effect of Music and Imagery to Induce Relaxation and Reduce Nausea and Emesis in Patients With Cancer Undergoing Chemotherapy Treatment

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of music and imagery versus imagery-only interventions on inducing relaxation and reducing nausea and emesis in patients with cancer undergoing chemotherapy treatment. Three dependent measures (heart rate, nausea, and emesis) were collected both before and after each of six intervention sessions. Experimental treatment conditions were guided imagery with music (MI) or without music (IO), alternated across the sessions. As part of the experimental treatment, participants were also encouraged to listen to music at home, that is, to listen twice daily to CD record- ings for relaxation. Regression analysis was used to examine factors relating to the frequency of nausea and emesis as well as heart rate. Results indicated a statistically significant decrease on posttreatment heart rate for MI and IO interventions. There was a significant decrease in the frequency of nausea and emesis over time, that is, across the 6 weeks of treatment. Self-reports from the participants indicated that the guided imagery with music, both in the experimental intervention sessions and at home, seemed to be very beneficial in inducing relaxation for these particular cancer patients.

Keywords

patients with cancer, music and imagery, chemotherapy and music therapy, nausea and emesis, Bonny method of guided imagery and music