Association of Music Interventions With Health-Related Quality of Life: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis
McCrary JM, Altenmüller E, Kretschmer C, Scholz DS
JAMA network open · 55 citations
How it was studied
- Design
- Meta-analysis (indexed by PubMed)
- Studied in
- People
- Main outcome
- Health markers and function
Who paid for it
- Funding
- Independent funding
- Nonprofit
- Alexander von Humboldt-Stiftung
Based on 1 listed funder(s).
Publication
- Published
- 2022-03-22 · JAMA Netw Open · vol. 5 · issue 3 · p. e223236
- Publisher
- American Medical Association
- Cited
- 91 citations · more than 100% of similar papers · 14.8× the field average
- Impact
- Top 10% most cited in its field
- References
- 71 works
- Access
- Open access (journal) · CC-BY
- Research areas
- Music Therapy and Health · Language Acquisition and Education · Health, psychology, and well-being
- Keywords
- Psychological intervention, PsycINFO, Medicine, MEDLINE, Music therapy, Observational study, Randomized controlled trial, Quality of life (healthcare), Clinical psychology, Physical therapy, Psychiatry, Internal medicine
- MeSH
- humans, health surveys, quality of life, music, middle aged
4 authors
From AU, DE
- J. Matt McCrary · correspondingUNSW Sydney; Hanover University of Music Drama and Media
- ECKART O. ALTENMÜLLERHanover University of Music Drama and Media
- Clara R. KretschmerHanover University of Music Drama and Media
- Daniel S. ScholzHanover University of Music Drama and Media
Abstract
Importance
Increasing evidence supports the ability of music to broadly promote well-being and health-related quality of life (HRQOL). However, the magnitude of music's positive association with HRQOL is still unclear, particularly relative to established interventions, limiting inclusion of music interventions in health policy and care.
Objective
To synthesize results of studies investigating outcomes of music interventions in terms of HRQOL, as assessed by the 36- and 12-Item Health Survey Short Forms (SF-36 and SF-12).
Data sources
MEDLINE, Embase, Web of Science, PsycINFO, ClinicalTrials.gov, and International Clinical Trials Registry Platform (searched July 30, 2021, with no restrictions).
Study selection
Inclusion criteria were randomized and single-group studies of music interventions reporting SF-36 data at time points before and after the intervention. Observational studies were excluded. Studies were reviewed independently by 2 authors.
Data extraction and synthesis
Data were independently extracted and appraised using GRADE criteria (Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluations) by multiple authors. Inverse-variance random-effects meta-analyses quantified changes in SF-36 mental and physical component summary (respectively, MCS and PCS) scores from preintervention to postintervention and vs common control groups.
Main outcomes and measures
SF-36 or SF-12 MCS and PCS scores, defined a priori.
Results
Analyses included 779 participants from 26 studies (mean [SD] age, 60 [11] years). Music interventions (music listening, 10 studies; music therapy, 7 studies; singing, 8 studies; gospel music, 1 study) were associated with significant improvements in MCS scores (total mean difference, 2.95 points; 95% CI, 1.39-4.51 points; P < .001) and PCS scores (total mean difference, 1.09 points; 95% CI, 0.15-2.03 points; P = .02). In subgroup analysis (8 studies), the addition of music to standard treatment for a range of conditions was associated with significant improvements in MCS scores vs standard treatment alone (mean difference, 3.72 points; 95% CI, 0.40-7.05 points; P = .03). Effect sizes did not vary between music intervention types or doses; no evidence of small study or publication biases was present in any analysis. Mean difference in MCS scores met SF-36 minimum important difference thresholds (mean difference 3 or greater).
Conclusions and relevance
In this systematic review and meta-analysis, music interventions were associated with clinically meaningful improvements in HRQOL; however, substantial individual variation in intervention outcomes precluded conclusions regarding optimal music interventions and doses for distinct clinical and public health scenarios.
Abstract via Europe PMC. Copyright remains with the authors or publisher (CC BY).
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