Expectations of hospitalized cancer and cardiac patients regarding the medical and psychotherapeutic benefits of music therapy

Cancer and cardiac patients were surveyed to determine if their expectations regarding the potential medical and psychotherapeutic benefits of music therapy and the relative effectiveness of different musical activities and styles would vary according to diagnostic group, and musical background. A total of 182 patients participated, 55 with various forms of cancer, and 127 with various cardiac conditions. The mean age was 59.8 years. The results showed that their expectations varied in certain benefit areas, music activities, and musical styles, according to: whether the patient had cancer or a cardiac condition, whether the patient had received music therapy previously, and whether the patient had studied music previously. Implications are drawn for introducing music therapy to cancer and cardiac patients.