Effects of motivational music on sleep quality for caregivers of patients with advanced cancer: a randomized controlled trial
In brief
Pre-bedtime music improves caregiver sleep quality by one point in a week
In a randomized trial of 76 home palliative-care caregivers, 30-minute nightly music sessions for seven days limited the rise in Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index scores to 0.6 points versus 2.0 points with control messages, indicating better perceived sleep. Participants also reported modestly longer sleep duration and less daytime sleepiness, suggesting a simple, low-cost aid for caregiver rest.
- Journal
- Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer (Q1)
- Published
- 3 August 2026
- Study design
- Randomized controlled trial
- Evidence level
- Level 1, High (CEBM 1b)
- Authors
- Inmaculada Valero-Cantero, María Ángeles Vázquez-Sánchez, Milagrosa Espinar-Toledo, Juan Corral-Pérez, José Luis Casals-Sánchez, Cristina Casals
- PMID
- 42545530
- DOI
- 10.1007/s00520-026-11038-6
Why clinicians should know about it
- Picked for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (top studies of the week, 9 August 2026): RCT music therapy improves caregiver sleep quality
Abstract
PURPOSE: To investigate the benefits of listening to pre-bedtime music on sleep quality and daytime sleepiness for family caregivers of palliative care patients at home. METHODS: Multicenter, randomized controlled clinical trial. Seventy-six caregivers were randomly assigned to intervention (n = 38) and control (n = 38) groups. The intervention group listened to individually chosen music for 30 min before bedtime for 7 days, and the control group listened to pre-recorded basic nursing education messages. The primary endpoint was the change in global subjective sleep quality, evaluated via the global Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) score. Secondary endpoints included daytime sleepiness (Epworth Sleepiness Scale [ESS]), accelerometer-derived sleep parameters, and client satisfaction (CSQ-8). RESULTS: Significant intergroup differences favoring the music intervention were observed in the mean changes from baseline for the primary endpoint of global sleep quality (PSQI Global Score: + 0.60 vs. + 2.05 points; p = 0.006). Descriptive intergroup differences favoring the intervention were observed for subjective nighttime sleep duration (+ 0.55 h; 95% CI 0.19 to 0.94) and daytime sleepiness (ESS: -2.74 points; 95% CI -4.11 to -0.56). Post-intervention satisfaction was significantly higher in the music group (CSQ-8: 27.61 vs. 24.63 points). CONCLUSIONS: Listening to pre-bedtime music maintains global subjective sleep quality for family caregivers in a home palliative care setting. Furthermore, exploratory signals suggest it may also prolong subjective sleep duration and reduce daytime sleepiness. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: The study is registered at Clinical Trials.gov, NCT04491110. Date: 29 July 2020.
Abstract as published, via PubMed.
For healthcare professionals. The summary is generated by AI from the published abstract, and the evidence level is assigned automatically from the study design on the Oxford CEBM hierarchy. Neither is medical advice. Read the full paper before changing practice.