Effects of Music Therapy on Pain and Anxiety in Patients Undergoing Bone Marrow Biopsy and Aspiration

Bone marrow biopsy and aspiration are commonly used for diagnosing, treating, and following up after treatment for blood disorders and solid tumors. For adults, the infiltration of local anesthesia at the biopsy site has been used as the principal form of analgesia for bone marrow biopsy and aspiration. Pain relief during these procedures is often incomplete, especially during aspiration of the bone marrow, and pain is likely to contribute to patient anxiety. Researchers at the Tabriz Hematology and Oncology Center in Iran conducted a study to quantify and evaluate the effectiveness of music therapy interventions on pain and anxiety control for 100 patients undergoing bone marrow biopsy and aspiration. Participants in the study were randomly assigned to one of two groups: one group listened to music during the procedure, and the other did not. Patients completed the Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory both before and after the procedure and reported pain severity by using a visual analog scale. Results showed that participants who listened to music had lower state anxiety and pain levels than those who did not listen to music

The effects of allopurinol mouthwash in the prevention of chemotherapy-induced stomatitis

Background: Stomatitis, the inflammation of the mucous lining of any of the oral structures, is a frequent side-effect of anticancer drugs due to excess uric acid production. Strict oral hygiene and the application of an appropriate mouthwash has been reported to relieve pain and improve patient quality of life. Allopurinol is a drug used to treat conditions caused by excess uric acid. The aim of this study to evaluate the effectiveness of prophylactic use of allopurinol mouthwash for stomatitis in patients undergoing chemotherapy."nMethods: In this quasi-experimental study, 42 patients were randomly assigned to either a study group or a control group. In the study group (28 patients), patients used 5 mg/ml allopurinol mouthwash in hydroxyl propyl methyl cellulose. The control group (14 patients) used water instead of the mouthwash. Treatment was administered for 16 days."nResults: Data collected during the daily follow-up of the patients' oral mucosa showed that allopurinol mouthwash decreased the severity, pain and duration of stomatitis."nConclusion: Preventing stomatitis in patients receiving chemotherapy improves the health of the patient and compliance with treatment. Based on our findings, allopurinol mouthwash should be used for all chemotherapy patients for the prevention of stomatitis. This nursing intervention can also improve the patient's nutritional state and level of satisfaction