This article reports on findings from a study of the accounts of people participating in music therapy as part of a programme of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) in supportive cancer care. Therefore, therapists have to continue to examine the beneficial effects of music therapy with cognitive restructuring therapy on emotional distress level of couples both in Nigeria and in other countries. In addition, the positive effect of the music therapy with cognitive restructuring therapy program can persist at follow-up. Our findings suggest music therapy with cognitive restructuring therapy is effective for reducing emotional distress of couples. Significant decreases in the level of emotional distress were observed in the music therapy with cognitive restructuring group, but the waitlisted group demonstrated no significant change in their score both at posttreatment and 3 follow-up assessments. There were no significant baseline differences in emotional distress level between participants in the music therapy with cognitive restructuring group and waitlisted group.
Effect sizes were also reported with partial η. Mean rank was also used to document the level of changes in emotional distress across groups. Repeated measures with analysis of variance were used to examine the effects of the intervention. Perceived emotional distress inventory (PEDI) was used to assess emotional symptoms. The participants for the study were 280 couples in south-east Nigeria. This study evaluates the effect of music therapy combined with cognitive restructuring therapy on emotional distress in a sample of Nigerian couples. Music therapy combined with cognitive restructuring could provide a mechanism to improve patients' sense of control over emotional distress. We discuss the implications of these changes for the development of music therapy in cancer care. These include providers of music and arts for health activity as well as complementary and alternative therapy practitioners who are increasingly involved in cancer care provision. These include responding to changes arising from developments in treatment and the organisation of care as well as increased collaboration with a diverse range of supportive care practitioners. The data point towards some of the challenges facing music therapists in the changing world of cancer care. The results provide insight into the way in which music and creative therapies are viewed by those responsible for care provision in this sector. As well as music, the survey organisations offered a range of supportive therapies including complementary and alternative therapies (CAM) and creative therapies such as art therapy. The survey examined the extent and type of music provision and explored providers’ views about the role and contribution of music and music therapy in healing. This paper explores the role of music activity and music therapy in health care drawing on a survey of UK cancer care providers offering music interventions and music therapy.