Effect of Selected Auditory Interventions on Reducing Chemotherapy Induced Anxiety and Pain of Children with Cancer and their Parents’ Satisfaction

Abstract

Background: Auditory interventions by listening to Holy Qur'an or music can be considered a support to the traditional medical practices in reducing anxiety and pain related to chemotherapy. The study aim was to examine the effect of selected auditory interventions on reducing chemotherapy induced anxiety and pain of children with cancer and their parents' satisfaction. Design: Pre/posttest quasi-experimental research design was used. Sample: A purposive sample of 100 children undergoing chemotherapy and one of their parents, children divided into two equal groups received selected auditory interventions: 50 children received Holy Qur'an and 50 children listened to music. Setting: This study was conducted at the outpatient and inpatient pediatric chemotherapy units at University Hospital affiliated to Suez Canal and Ismailia Medical Complex. Tools: Tool (I) Interviewing questionnaire which included demographic data for the studied children and one of their parents, Tool (II) a numerical rating scale (NRS) to evaluate children's pain intensity, Tool (III) Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAM-A), is used to assess anxiety level, and Tool (IV) Parents` satisfaction questionnaire to evaluate the parents' level of satisfaction with the selected auditory intervention of pain relief in the children undergoing chemotherapy. Results: Study results revealed that studied children age was between 8 to <10 years old were (40%) in the Qur'an group and (36%) in the music group. It also, showed that, 58% of children who listening to Holy Qur'an had severe pain pre-test and decreased to 5% post-test, while, in the music group 30% had severe pain in pre-test which improved to 12% post-test and 50% of children had not anxiety in Holy Qur'an group and 33% had moderate anxiety in music group post-test. Also parents' satisfaction to the use of selected auditory interventions are increased in post-test Holy Qur'an (50%) compared to music group (30%). Conclusion: there were highly statistical significant differences in application of selected auditory interventions by listening to Holy Qur'an and music as children had lower pain intensity and anxiety level in post-test compared to pre-test. Recommendation: Health education and training program should be conducted for pediatric nurses about different auditory interventions that can play a vital role in supporting clinical practices to reduce pain and anxiety level for children undergoing chemotherapy.