The Effect of Music on Symptom Management and Quality of Life in Patients withRheumatoid Arthritis

Irem Yildiz Cilengiroglu

Status: Completed

Conditions: Symptoms Arthritis; Music; Rheumatoid Arthritis

Treatments: Other: music

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT07087899

2023/73

Details and patient eligibility

About

This randomized controlled study was designed to determine the effects of music on symptom management and quality of life in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

The study was conducted between October 2023 and August 2024 with 88 patients diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis (41 experimental, 47 control) at the Rheumatology clinic and outpatient clinic of a university hospital in Edirne. Within the scope of this study, the Turkish validity and reliability of the Patient Symptom Thermometer scale were tested. Data were collected using the "Patient Information Form" including sociodemographic and disease-related characteristics, the "EQ-5D General Quality of Life Scale," the "Patient Symptom Thermometer," and the "DAS-28 Disease Activity Score."

Full description

Background and Aim: Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic disease that significantly reduces quality of life due to both physical and psychosocial symptoms. Complementary methods such as music therapy are thought to be effective in alleviating symptoms and improving quality of life in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. This randomized controlled study was designed to determine the effects of music on symptom management and quality of life in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Material and Methods: The study was conducted between October 2023 and August 2024 with 88 patients diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis (41 experimental, 47 control) at the Rheumatology clinic and outpatient clinic of a university hospital in Edirne. Within the scope of this study, the Turkish validity and reliability of the Patient Symptom Thermometer scale were tested. Data were collected using the "Patient Information Form" including sociodemographic and disease-related characteristics, the "EQ-5D General Quality of Life Scale," the "Patient Symptom Thermometer," and the "DAS-28 Disease Activity Score." During the first interview, the relevant scales and questionnaire were applied to patients in both the experimental and control groups. Patients in the experimental group were provided with music players and headphones to listen to music twice a day-once during the day and once at night-for one month. On the 15th and 30th days of the study, the EQ-5D General Quality of Life Scale and the Patient Symptom Thermometer were administered to the experimental group. The same scales were also applied to the control group, who did not listen to music, on the 15th and 30th days.

Financial Support: The present study was supported by the Research Fund of Trakya University. Project No: 2023/73

Enrollment: 88 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 75 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Patients diagnosed with RA by a physician according to the American College of Rheumatology - The European Alliance of Associations for Rheumatology (ACR-EULAR) 2010 criteria
• Patients diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis at least 6 months ago
• Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis who volunteer to participate in the study

Exclusion criteria

• Patients with hearing problems
• Rheumatoid Arthritis patients who do not volunteer to participate in the study

Trial design

Primary purpose: Other

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

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88 participants in 2 patient groups

music

Experimental group

Description:

The participants were informed about the research process during the first meeting. Participants were told that, if they agreed to participate in the study, they would need to listen to music twice a day-once during the day and once at night-for a period of one month. It was explained that each participant would be provided with a music player and headphones for one month, and that these items would need to be returned after the study ended. Participants were also given information on how to listen to the music. Participants were instructed on how to use the music player, informed that there were two playlists-one for daytime and one for nighttime-and advised to listen to each playlist for a maximum of 30 minutes.

Treatment:

Other: music

control

No Intervention group

Description:

In the first interview, participants were informed about the research process. Patient information forms and scales (EQ-5D General Quality of Life Scale, DAS-28 Disease Activity Score and Patient Symptom Thermometer) that would be used in data collection were explained to the participants. Participants were informed about how often and how these forms and scales would be applied. No intervention was applied to the participants in the control group in the study.