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eHealth mindfulness-based music therapy for patients undergoing allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation: A pilot randomized controlled trial protocol

May 17th, 2024
Miami, FL, United States
Sara E Fleszar-Pavlovic, Blanca Noriega Esquives, Arianna E Brito, Ann Marie Sia, Mary Adelyn Kauffman, Maria Lopes, Patricia I Moreno, Tulay Koru-Sengul, Rui Gong, Trent Wang, Eric D Wieder, Maria Rueda-Lara, Michael Antoni, Krishna Komanduri, Teresa Lesiuk, Frank J Penedo
Music therapy can have significant benefits to physical, mental, emotional, and social health. This study looks at the role that mindfulness-based music therapy can play for patients undergoing allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.
Contemporary Clinical Trials
DOI: 10.1016/j.cct.2024.107577
Posted byMahmoud Said

Abstract/Description

Background: Allogeneic stem cell transplantation (allo-SCT) is the preferred therapy for patients with high-risk or relapsed hematologic malignancies, but may be complicated by psychological distress (e.g., depression, anxiety) and symptom burden (e.g., fatigue, pain). Mindfulness-based music therapy (MBMT), a relatively novel integrative medicine intervention that draws from mindfulness and music therapy principles, has shown promise in improving psychosocial outcomes and symptom burden in cancer patients. We outline an eHealth-based MBMT (eMBMT) intervention protocol examining: (1) feasibility, acceptability, and intended effects of eMBMT in improving HRQOL, symptom burden, and clinical markers of disease activity (e.g., infections), and (2) the extent to which eMBMT music therapy component-associated improvements in HRQOL, symptom burden, and disease activity are mediated by improvements in psychosocial and physiological (e.g., systemic inflammation, immune recovery) adaptation.

Methods: Participants (n = 60) with a hematologic malignancy undergoing allo-SCT will be randomized to receive eMBMT or an eHealth-based mindfulness meditation (eMM) intervention. eMBMT includes eight 60-min sessions facilitated by a music therapist focusing on mindfulness and music therapy. eMM includes eight 60-min self-led MM practices.

Results: Feasibility, acceptability, HRQOL, symptom burden, disease activity, and mediation effects of psychosocial and physiological adaptation will be assessed at baseline, pre-infusion, and post-engraftment with blood collection at baseline and post-engraftment.

Conclusion: The current pilot RCT is the first eMBMT intervention to address the HRQOL and symptom burden of patients who are undergoing allo-SCT. Results will inform a fully powered RCT to establish preliminary efficacy of eMBMT on improvements in HRQOL, symptom burden, and disease activity.

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