Accurately and clearly states your Research Question as formulated and stated in PICO format Describe the purpose of your ITSS paper What statistics document this is a problem? What health outcomes result from your problem? Describe how the article (i.e. therapy, prognosis, risk factors, assessments, or meanings….etc) Identify and describe the based on level of evidence pyramid (see handout) Identify the study type based on the study design: Quantitative, Qualitative, Descriptive, Mixed-Method Study
Research Question: What is the effect of music therapy on reducing anxiety in cancer patients during chemotherapy?
The purpose of this ITSS paper is to explore the use of music therapy as a potential intervention for reducing anxiety in cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. The ultimate aim is to provide evidence-based recommendations for the integration of music therapy into standard cancer care.
There are several statistics that highlight the significance of the problem. According to the American Cancer Society, approximately 39.5% of men and women will be diagnosed with cancer at some point in their lifetime. Additionally, anxiety is a prevalent issue among cancer patients, with studies reporting rates as high as 40-60%. This indicates that a large population of cancer patients could potentially benefit from interventions that address anxiety, such as music therapy.
The health outcome of interest in this research is the reduction of anxiety in cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. Anxiety has debilitating effects on patients’ well-being, including increased distress, decreased quality of life, and impaired treatment adherence. By focusing on anxiety reduction, we aim to improve patients’ overall emotional well-being, enhance treatment experiences, and potentially improve treatment outcomes.
The article chosen for this analysis is a quantitative study that investigates the effects of music therapy on anxiety in cancer patients receiving chemotherapy. The article adopts a randomized controlled trial design, which allows for the comparison of the effects of music therapy to a control group. This design strengthens the validity of the study’s findings and provides a high level of evidence for evaluating the efficacy of music therapy in reducing anxiety.
The based on level of evidence pyramid is a framework used to assess the quality and strength of evidence provided by different types of research studies. At the top of the pyramid are systematic reviews and meta-analyses, which offer the highest level of evidence due to their comprehensive synthesis of multiple studies. Randomized controlled trials, such as the study in focus, are positioned just below systematic reviews, showcasing their importance in providing rigorous evidence.
Further down the pyramid are other quantitative study designs, such as cohort studies and case-control studies, which provide valuable evidence but may have limitations in controlling confounding variables or generalizability. Qualitative studies, such as interviews or focus groups, offer in-depth insights into the experiences and perceptions of individuals but are considered lower in the hierarchy of evidence due to the potential for bias or subjectivity.
Descriptive studies, which aim to describe a particular phenomenon, are situated at the lower levels of the pyramid. These studies provide valuable preliminary information but lack the rigorous control and comparison that quantitative studies offer. Lastly, mixed-method studies combine both quantitative and qualitative approaches, offering a comprehensive understanding of a research question by examining different facets of the issue.
Based on the study design described, the chosen article can be classified as a quantitative study. It employs a randomized controlled trial design to assess the effects of music therapy on anxiety in cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. This design allows for the manipulation of the independent variable (music therapy) and the measurement of the dependent variable (anxiety levels), providing a strong basis for evaluating the intervention’s efficacy.
In conclusion, this ITSS paper aims to investigate the effect of music therapy on reducing anxiety in cancer patients during chemotherapy. The chosen article is a quantitative study that adopts a randomized controlled trial design, allowing for a rigorous evaluation of the efficacy of music therapy. By analyzing the evidence presented in this study, we can contribute to the existing knowledge in this field and provide recommendations for integrating music therapy into cancer care protocols.