Comparing live music therapy to recorded music therapy for terminally ill patients
Official title: Differences in Acceptability of Music Therapy Sessions Played Live Compared to a Recording Thereof
Run by University of Zurich · NCT06108375 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is testing whether live music therapy can help terminally ill patients feel better compared to listening to recorded music.
Quick facts
| Study type | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Ages | 18 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 25 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | University of Zurich Academic / other |
| Drugs / interventions | chemotherapy |
| Locations | 1 site (Zurich, Canton of Zurich) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | October 24, 2023 |
| Main results expected | December 2025 |
| Study ends | March 2026 |
| Registry record updated | July 11, 2025 |
| Trial ID | NCT06108375 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Ideal candidates for this study are adults over 18 years old with a diagnosis of metastatic cancer or severe illness who are receiving palliative care.
✕Probably not a fit
Patients who are unable to participate in questionnaires due to physical, cognitive, or linguistic limitations may not benefit from this study.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
This study evaluates the acceptability and feasibility of live music therapy sessions versus recorded music therapy in a palliative care setting at the University Hospital Zurich. It aims to gather both objective data on physiological responses, using a commercially available tracker to measure biomarkers like heart rate and electrodermal activity, and subjective data through validated questionnaires assessing quality of life and psychological outcomes. The goal is to enhance the understanding of music therapy's effects on patients with terminal illnesses, particularly in alleviating distress and improving overall well-being.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this study could provide evidence supporting the use of music therapy as an effective complementary treatment to improve the quality of life for terminally ill patients.
How similar studies have gone: While there is a growing body of literature on music therapy in palliative care, this specific comparison of live versus recorded therapy is relatively novel.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Age \>18 years old * Capacity to provide informed consent * Patients with established diagnosis of a metastatic cancer/severe illness with limited life expectancy on a palliative care ward at the University Hospital Zurich Exclusion Criteria: • Inability to answer a questionnaire due to physical limitations as well as cognitive or linguistic reasons.
Where it's running
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University Hospital Zurich
Zurich, Canton of Zurich, Switzerland Recruiting
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: David Blum, Prof.Dr.med. — University of Zurich
- Study coordinator: David Blum, Prof.Dr.med.
- Email: david.blum@usz.ch
- Phone: 0041 43 253 37 42
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How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.