Live music interventions are increasingly employed in healthcare settings through a range of models, including clinical music therapy and Arts-in-Health musician programs. This study examines patient responses to live music delivered by trained professional orchestral musicians within an outpatient chemotherapy infusion unit. Although a substantial body of research associates music with reductions in anxiety, pain, and distress, findings remain heterogeneous, and the mechanisms underlying these outcomes remain incompletely understood. This is particularly true in live music settings, where musical experience is inseparable from interpersonal encounter. The aim of this study was to explore whether Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT), the psychotherapeutic model developed by Paul Gilbert, offers a useful interpretive framework for understanding patient experiences of live music delivered by Arts-in-Health musicians. Drawing upon qualitative patient reflections collected through a service-evaluation questionnaire, the study examines how processes associated with emotional regulation, social safeness, connection, comfort, and self-soothing may emerge within live musical encounters. Viewed through a compassion science perspective, patient accounts frequently reflected experiences of meaningful autobiographical connection, reduced isolation, emotional comfort, and feelings of being cared for. These observations suggest that some benefits of music in healthcare may arise not solely from acoustic properties of the music itself, but also from relational processes embedded within the musical encounter. The purpose of this study is not to apply CFT as an intervention, but to use it as an interpretive framework for examining patient experiences of live music within an oncology setting. Through this lens, the findings contribute to emerging discussions concerning music, compassion, and human connection within healthcare.
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is often applied in isolated TCM practices, making rigorous research and standardized real-world data collection challenging. The purpose of this study was to implement the general consent (GC) in TCM practices, investigate the issue and the acceptance rate of the GC, and the influencing demographic factors. GC forms were distributed to patients before appointments and collected during their first visits. Logistic regression analyses were performed to investigate demographic factors influencing GC issue and acceptance rates, considering variables such as age, sex, age * sex, and months since implementation. The study enrolled 2,603 patients who sought TCM treatment, of whom 77.5% returned a GC document. Overall, the GC acceptance rate was 1,558/2,603 (59.9%); of those returning the GC, the acceptance rate was 1,558/2,018 (77.2%). The median [IQR] age of patients was 52 years [37, 64], and the number of female patients was around twice that of male patients. Logistic regression analysis showed no association with the GC issue rate for older age (odds ratio, OR: 1.01, 95% CI: 0.99-1.03, p = 0.474), female sex (OR: 1.31, 95% CI: 0.71-2.38, p = 0.387), the interaction between age and female sex (OR: 1.00, 95% CI: 0.98-1.01, p = 0.379), or months since GC implementation (OR: 1.00, 95% CI: 0.98-1.01, p = 0.615). Similarly, for the acceptance rate, no effects were observed for older age (OR: 1.02, 95% CI: 1.00-1.04, p = 0.120), female sex (OR: 1.25, 95% CI: 0.63-2.46, p = 0.516), or the interaction between age and female sex (OR: 0.99, 95% CI: 0.97-1.01, p = 0.243). Months since GC implementation was associated with a slight decrease in acceptance rate over time (OR: 0.98, 95% CI: 0.97-1.00, p = 0.034). In conclusion, this study successfully implemented the GC in TCM practices and paves the way for real-world studies in the field of TCM. Patient acceptance was high and remained consistent across sex and age.
Biofield Therapies (BTs), such as Reiki and Healing Touch, are used in integrative and complementary medicine, but their biological mechanisms remain poorly understood. This review aimed to explore the physiological biomarkers modulated by BTs in a selected sample of studies to identify common patterns and elucidate potential mechanisms of action. A focused narrative synthesis of 14 intentionally selected studies was performed, encompassing various BT modalities, study designs (including randomized clinical trials, preclinical studies, and in vitro models), and biomarker types. A total of 64 biomarkers were extracted and classified based on type, clinical application, and biological function. Data synthesis included descriptive statistics to summarize the distribution of biomarker categories within this sample. In the RCTs, the analysis of the 17 biomarkers pointed to diagnostic and diagnostic-prognostic contexts, with a relevant subset of prognostic-therapeutic biomarkers (23.5%) suggesting an adjuvant role in predicting clinical outcomes and in therapeutic monitoring. The most frequently reported biomarkers in the selected studies were inflammatory and immunological (40.6%), followed by cellular regulatory markers. The main findings included evidence of modulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, enhanced immune function (Natural Killer (NK) cell activity), cytoprotective effects in in vitro models, and exploratory observations of increased telomere length. This synthesis suggests that BTs are associated with measurable physiological changes in multiple systems, reinforcing the need for further mechanistic investigations. Future research should prioritize investigations into the diagnostic and prognostic potential of BT in oncological contexts, as well as the development of individualized biophotonic signatures to promote personalized, rapid, and non-invasive applications.
Biofield therapies (BTs) including Reiki, Therapeutic Touch (TT), Healing Touch (HT), and External Qigong Treatment (EQT) are non-pharmacological interventions proposed to modulate putative energy fields surrounding the human body. Despite growing clinical interest, the evidence base remains methodologically heterogeneous. This study aimed to provide a rigorous synthesis of randomized controlled trial (RCT) evidence on the efficacy of BTs for pain reduction and for the alleviation of symptoms associated with mental disorders (SAMD), including anxiety, depression, stress, and aggressiveness. A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted following PRISMA 2020 guidelines (PROSPERO: CRD42024618260). RCTs published between 2003 and 2023 were identified in PubMed, Scopus, CINAHL, and Google Scholar. Effect sizes were calculated as Hedges’ g under an inverse-variance weighting framework, and random-effects models were fitted using the REML estimator (metafor, R v4.3.2). A three-level multilevel model was applied to the SAMD group to account for nested outcomes. Influence diagnostics and pre-specified sensitivity models were used to address statistically influential observations. Publication bias was assessed via funnel plots, Egger’s test, and trim-and-fill. Risk of bias was evaluated with the Cochrane RoB 2 tool. Twenty-eight RCTs were included (Pain: k = 14, N = 918; SAMD: k = 22, N = 1,581). Risk of bias was low in 10.7% of trials, of some concern in 64.3%, and high in 25.0%. For the Pain group, the primary model yielded g = 0.72 (95% CI: 0.27-1.16; I2 = 88.2%); the sensitivity model, excluding two influential studies, yielded g = 0.27 (95% CI: 0.10-0.44; I2 = 9.8%). For the SAMD group, primary and sensitivity estimates were g = 0.66 (95% CI: 0.37-0.94; I2 = 82.6%) and g = 0.42 (95% CI: 0.26-0.57; I2 = 34.1%), respectively. Subgroup analyses revealed consistent small-to-moderate effects for anxiety (g = 0.32; I2 = 13.4%) and depression (g = 0.39; I2 = 0.0%), whereas stress showed a larger but less stable estimate (g = 0.68; I2 = 73.1%). Session duration was the only moderator with a negative trend, though with limited explanatory power (pseudo-R2 < 12%). Funnel plot asymmetry in sensitivity models suggested small-study effects, with trim-and-fill estimates of g = 0.16 (Pain) and g = 0.27 (SAMD). Biofield therapies are associated with statistically significant but small effects on pain (g = 0.27) and SAMD (g = 0.42) in methodologically robust models. Evidence is most consistent for anxiety and depression. The findings support BTs as potential complementary adjuncts in integrative care, though clinical impact is modest and context-dependent. Future trials should prioritize adequate sample sizes, active or sham controls, standardized outcomes, and pre-registered protocols.
Perinatal mental health challenges are the number one complication of pregnancy and childbearing. Despite the growing need, substantial barriers to addressing perinatal mental health exist, including lack of infrastructure, policies, and workforce. Baby Talk, a free prenatal education program, sought to address this growing need through a brief intervention for those with a positive screening. Baby Talk partnered with a local suicide prevention program to develop a tool to enhance access to care and to support emotional regulation, safety, and connection during moments of crisis. The Growing Hope Kit is a tangible tool inspired by Dialectical Behavior Therapy and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy principles. Content was curated to decrease symptoms related to depression, anxiety, substance use and suicidal ideation. Development focused on a social-ecological model to enhance individual abilities, promote social connection (interpersonal and community), and highlight societal resources (organizational and public policy). The kit was also developed with a positive psychology perspective addressing multiple sources of strength (e.g., physical health, mental health, spirituality), which have been shown to promote protective factors for mental health. Expert review identified gaps in kit content and suggestions for modification. Perinatal community health workers and prenatal education staff confirmed face validity of final kit content. Low-cost, effective interventions are needed to support those experiencing depression, anxiety and other mental health conditions during the perinatal period. The partnership to design the Growing Hope Kit was the first step in the development of a community-based intervention to expand access to care and enhance coping skills. Next steps include assessing perceptions of usability and acceptability of the Growing Hope Kit by birthing persons, followed by future effectiveness testing through a rigorously controlled trial. If successful, this intervention will promote perinatal mental health resource and provide those experiencing mental health challenges with tools and resources, especially in low-resourced areas.
