Perspectives of Medical Oncologists regarding Music Therapy for Patients with Cancer in Turkey - Can Musicology be Integrated into Psycho-oncology?

Background: Music therapy is a common complementary and alternative therapy in addition to medicaltreatment for patients with cancer. If music therapy, which is known has a positive effect on human emotionsand behaviors, is a useful additional therapy, it should be more integrated into pyscho-oncology. In this study,we aimed to determine medical oncologist attitudes to music therapy for patients with cancer and knowledgeabout musicology and music therapy in Turkey. Materials and
Methods: This survey study included questionsabout participant attitudes and knowledge regarding music therapy as well as demographic characteristics. Thepopulation of the study were 402 physicians working in medical oncology in Turkey and the sample covered 112participants in the the survey. For statistical analyses the chi-square test, Fischer exact test, and Mann-WhitneyU analysis are applied.
Results: In our study the rate for medical oncologists who were interested in music therapywas 28% (n=112). Some 30% (n=34) of medical oncologists recommended music therapy for their patients and55% (n=61) recommended music therapy to prevent anxiety in patients with cancer.
Conclusions: In this study,for more harmony with patients and in order to ensure management of adverse effect, it was concluded thatmusic therapy should be regrded as an additional therapy in oncology clinics.