Sahler, O.J.Z., Hunter, B.C., & Liesveld, J.L. (2003). The effect of using music therapy with relaxation imagery in the management of patients undergoing bone marrow transplantation: A pilot feasibility study. Alternative Therapies, 9(6), 70–74.
A 45-minute music-assisted intervention with relaxation imagery sessions was provided twice a week by a trained therapist from the date of enrollment in the study to discharge.
The study was conducted at a university bone marrow transplant center.
Patients were undergoing the active treatment phase of care.
The study had a case-controlled, nonrandomized convenience sample design.
Patient self-reported pre- and postintervention nausea and pain on a 0–10 scale. Time to engraftment also was measured.
Nausea, pain, and time to engraftment decreased from pre- to postintervention.
The intervention was implemented successfully with a very ill population (i.e., transplant environment).