Effects of music intervention on physical and psychological problems in adults receiving haemodialysis treatment: A systematic review and meta‐analysis

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: To synthesise the effects of music intervention on the physical and psychological problems of adults receiving haemodialysis. BACKGROUND: Adults receiving haemodialysis experience many physical and psychological problems. Music interventions may have beneficial effect on the management of these problems. DESIGN: A systematic review and meta-analysis based on PRISMA 2020. METHODS: This study followed the Cochrane 2021 guideline. Eleven electronic databases were searched from inception to July 2021. Randomised controlled trials that assessed music intervention on haemodialysis-related physical and psychological problems were included. Two authors independently assessed risk of bias with the Cochrane Collaboration tool. The Comprehensive Meta-Analysis software version 3 was used for meta-analysis. RESULTS: Sixteen randomised controlled trials were included. This meta-analysis demonstrated that music intervention had significant and large effect on physical outcomes such as breath rate, oxygen saturation, arteriovenous fistula puncture-related pain, itching, sleep quality as well as psychological outcomes such as state anxiety and stress. The study also found that music intervention had significant and medium effect on physical outcomes such as systolic and diastolic blood pressure, heart rate and pain, and psychological outcomes such as anxiety. Music intervention had no effect on physical outcomes such as body temperature and cramps, and psychological outcomes such as trait anxiety and depression. Subgroup analyses indicated that sessions of 4-6 are more effective for improving the systolic and diastolic blood pressure and heart rate than three sessions or less. It also found that music duration of 20 min or less is more effective in reducing anxiety compared to music duration of 30 min or more. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrated that music intervention may partially improve haemodialysis-related physical and psychological problems. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: This study will contribute to perform of music intervention for haemodialysis-related physical and psychological problems for health professionals, particularly nurses. STUDY REGISTRATION: This study has been registered at PROSPERO (Registration No. CRD42021267463).