Table 2.
Summary of outcomes.
| Study (Year) | Sample Size (N) | Type of Music Engagement | Frequency of Music Engagement | Reporting Method | Measure | Effect of Music on Burnout Outcomes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cross-sectional studies | ||||||
| Rose (2006)67 | 5 | Self-directed music listening | NR | Self-reported | Oral narrative/storytelling and reflective journaling | 1/5 (20%) reported using music as a coping strategy |
| Cutshall (2010)58 | 49 | Music therapy (undescribed) | NR | Self-reported | Written survey | 61% reported using music therapy as a coping strategy |
| Rose (2010)68 | 16 | Music (undescribed leisure activities) | NR | Self-reported | Semi-structured interviews/storytelling and reflective journaling | Music was used as a coping strategy |
| Happell (2013)60 | 38 | Self-directed music listening | NR | Self-reported | Six focus group interviews | Music on the wards was listed as one of 11 stress prevention strategies (the number of nurses that suggested this is unknown) |
| Jordan (2016)61 | 120 | Self-directed music listening | NR | Self-reported | Survey | Music listening was rated as the second most common activity (46%) for coping with work-related stress |
| Tuisku (2016)70 | 530 | Employer-provided opportunities to attend cultural events, including music entertainment | 29 nurses (5%) reported participating in cultural activities three times or more, 45 (9%) reported participating twice, 141 (27%) reported participating once, 313 (59%) reported no participation, and 2 (.4%) did not report participation in a 6-month period | Self-reported | Digital questionnaire & 5-point Likert Scale | Nurses who participated in cultural activities rated their work engagement to be significantly increased compared to non-participants. It was not reported how often nurses participated in any cultural activities that were music entertainment |
| Oates (2018)63 | 27 | Self-directed music listening and playing an instrument alone or with others in musical bands | NR | Self-reported | Semi-structured interviews | Music was one of four activities reported by nurses to support wellbeing |
| Cohort studies | ||||||
| Davis (2005)59 | 68 | Researcher-directed music listening (new-age music) in conjunction with aromatherapy massage | 15-minute sessions, once a week for 12 weeks | Observed | POSS & FAS | No significant difference for job satisfaction and occupational stress (POSS). 86% reported reduced anxiety (FAS) |
| Cooke (2007)57 | 79 | Researcher-directed music listening (new-age music) in conjunction with aromatherapy massage | 15-minute sessions, once a week for 12 weeks, one period during summer and one period during winter | Observed | POSS & FAS | No significant difference for job satisfaction and occupational stress. 92% reported that music and aromatherapy massage reduced anxiety |
| Ceravolo (2019)56 | 12 | Researcher-directed music listening (‘soft’ music), aromatherapy, using a singing bowl, and mindfulness | 60-minute session once weekly for 8 weeks | Observed | ProQOL-30, CBI-19 | Significant increase in compassion satisfaction scores and significant reductions in risk for burnout scores (ProQOL-30); significant reductions in personal burnout and work-related burnout scores (CBI-19) |
| Phillips (2020)65 | 43 | Song writing once a week for 4 weeks. Weeks 1-4: Story Development, Week 5: Song Development - song recording and performance; Week 6: Debriefing Session - final writing session and experience debriefing | Week 1-4 (Story Development): 1-1.5 hours once weekly, Week 5 (Song Development): 4 hours, Week 6: NR | Observed | ProQOL-30 | Significant reductions in burnout and secondary traumatic stress scores; significant increase in compassion satisfaction scores |
| Semerci (2020)69 | 30 | Researcher-directed music listening (relaxation music) in conjunction with progressive muscle relaxation | 25-30-minute session once weekly for 8 weeks | Observed | ProQOL-30 | Significant reductions in burnout and compassion fatigue scores |
| Randomized controlled trials | ||||||
| Lai (2011)62 | 54 | Self-selected music listening with headphones. Music selections included: piano music (n = 20, 37%), slow jazz (n = 13, 24.1%), harp music (n = 11, 20.4%), Western orchestral (n = 5, 9.3%), and Chinese orchestral music (n = 5, 9.3%) during chair rest | 30 minutes of music listening | Observed | VAS, heart rate, mean arterial pressure, finger temperature, serum cortisol | Significant reduction in self-perceived stress scores, heart rate, mean arterial pressure, and cortisol. Significantly increased finger temperature; significant correlations between music preference and heart rate, mean arterial pressure, finger temperature, and self-perceived stress |
| Ploukou (2018)66 | 46 | Percussion improvisation sessions. Instruments included: Bongo drum, Djembe, Doumbek and in some cases maraca, castanets, triangle, wood block, ratchet and tambourine | 60-minute session once a week for one month | Observed | HADS, PILL | Significant reductions in depression & anxiety (HADS), and psychosomatic symptoms (PILL) |
| Ozgundondu (2019)64 | 56 | Researcher-directed music listening (music: Daniel Kobialka) in conjunction with progressive muscle relaxation | 20-minute session once weekly for 8 weeks | Observed | FSS, PSS | Significant reductions in stress (PSS) and fatigue (FSS) at weeks 8 and 12. Significant improvements were reported for self-distraction, acceptance, instrumental support, emotional support, and venting |
| W.J (2021)71 | 30 | Mahamantra chanting | 20 minutes each day (during any personally convenient time) for 45 days | Observed | VAS, heart rate, mean arterial pressure, finger temperature, serum cortisol | Significant reductions in serum cortisol and SAA and a non-significant increase in DHEA-S |
Abbreviations: CBI-19, Copenhagen Burnout Inventory - 19 Items; DHEA-S, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate; FAS, Faces Anxiety Scale; FSS, Fatigue Severity Scale; HADS; Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale; NR, not reported; PILL, Pennebaker Inventory of Limbic Languidness; POSS, Perceived Occupational Stress Scale; ProQOL-30, Professional Quality of Life Scale - 30 Items; PSS, Perceived Stress Scale - 10 Items; SAA, salivary alpha-amylase; VAS, Visual Analogue Scale.