Music therapy before surgery eases nerves, study finds
NCT ID NCT05982184
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026
Summary
This study looked at whether listening to music for a week before colon cancer surgery can lower anxiety. 116 adults scheduled for surgery were asked to listen to music three times a day. Their anxiety levels were compared to a group that did not have a music routine. The goal is to find a simple, drug-free way to help patients feel calmer before an operation.
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Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
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Not a phased trial
Phase numbers describe drug development. The registry uses this when they do not apply, as it does for trials of devices, procedures or behaviour changes, and for observational studies.
- Participants
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116 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
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Oct 2023
- Finished
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Dec 2025
- Lead sponsor
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Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
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16 years and older
- Sex
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Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
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Not accepted
This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.
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Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: * Patients aged ≥ 16 years * Patients undergoing elective oncological colorectal surgery at participating center * Minimal hospital stay of 2 days postoperatively. * Sufficient knowledge of the Dutch language * Communicable and able to assess the questionnaires * Patients who have access to personal music playing device and headphones/earphones. - Written informed consent acquired from the patient Exclusion Criteria: * Patients with severe hearing impairment (defined as no or barely verbal communication possible). * Patients with an expected stay of less than two nights in the hospital * Patients who are professional musicians. * Active music players or singers who may play or sing every week * Patients who actively listen to music with a duration of \> 30 minutes daily. Active listening is defined as music listening with headphones/earphones, while this is not combined with any other activity (e.g. exercising, working, driving or religious activities). * Patients who have a preoperative waiting period of less than five days. * Participation in another study that may possibly intervene with the outcome measures. (e.g. use of psychiatric medication during inclusion or prehabilitation interventions or similar procedures according to the judgement of the research team) * Assessment of primary outcome is not possible. * Patients with mental disorders influencing their ability to adhere to the study protocol and/or assess the questionnaires. * Inability or unwillingness to receive the music intervention.
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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Admiraal de Ruyter Ziekenhuis
Goes, Zeeland, Netherlands
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Albert Schweitzer Ziekenhuis
Dordrecht, South Holland, 3318 AT, Netherlands
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Amphia Ziekenhuis
Breda, North Brabant, Netherlands
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Franciscus Gasthuis
Rotterdam, South Holland, 3045 PM, Netherlands
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Maasstad Ziekenhuis
Rotterdam, South Holland, 3079 DZ, Netherlands
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