Abstract
OBJECTIVE: This research explored the potential benefits of five-element music in cancer-related fatigue (CRF) and mood disturbances among patients with lung cancer. METHODS: This study included 460 hospitalised patients with lung cancer from July 2023 to February 2024. The participants were divided into two arms as follows: 217 received five-element music therapy and conventional nursing care (combined group), whilst 243 were assigned to conventional nursing care (routine group). Outcomes such as adverse reactions, Piper Fatigue Rating Scale (PFS-R) score and psychological status (Self-rating Anxiety Scale [SAS] and Self-rating Depression Scale [SDS] scores) were assessed before and after the care. The logistic regression model was used to explore the influence of five-element music on the above indicators. RESULTS: Post-care data revealed declines in PFS-R scale scores for both groups, with the combined group exhibiting superior outcomes in cognition, behaviour, body and emotion (all P < 0.001). Psychological metrics (SAS/SDS) similarly favoured the combined group (all P < 0.001). The combined group demonstrated a significantly higher medication compliance rate than the routine group (92.63% vs. 81.48%, P < 0.001), underscoring the therapeutic advantage of the proposed approach. The results of logistic regression showed that significant associations were found between medication compliance and two key factors: anxiety scores (SAS, odds ratio [OR]: 1.055, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.013-1.100) and depression scores (SDS, OR: 1.246, 95% CI: 1.178-1.318). CONCLUSION: The application of five-element music therapy demonstrates potential benefits for patients with lung cancer, including alleviating CRF, mitigating negative emotions and improving medication compliance.