• Alexandria Lichtl, Camila Casaw, Jasmine Edwards, Karen Popkin, Jennifer Yu, Qing S Li, Malik Cadwell, Jun J Mao, and Kevin T Liou.
• New York University Grossman School of Medicine (A.L.), New York, NY, USA.
• J Pain Symptom Manage. 2022 Nov 1; 64 (5): 478485478-485.

ContextRacial pain disparities present challenges to cancer symptom management. Music therapy has demonstrated benefits for pain and is a promising treatment option for diverse populations due to music's multicultural presence. However, Black cancer patients are under-represented in music therapy trials.ObjectivesThis study compared pain severity, treatment approaches, and responses to music therapy between Black and white cancer patients. The findings will be used to generate hypotheses for future music therapy research to address racial disparities in pain management.MethodsWe conducted a retrospective program evaluation of Black and white patients who received music therapy at an NCI-Designated Comprehensive Cancer Center. We used the Edmonton Symptom Assessment Scale (ESAS) to assess pain. We abstracted opioid use, music therapy referral reasons, and treatment approaches from the electronic health record.ResultsAmong 358 patients, 18% were Black, 42% reported moderate-to-severe pain, and 47% received opioids. Black patients reported higher baseline pain than white patients, but similar proportions of Black and white patients received opioids. Greater proportions of Black patients received music therapy referrals for pain (73% vs. 56%, P = 0.04) and engaged in active techniques (92% vs. 82%, P = 0.04). Black and white patients reported clinically meaningful pain reduction of similar magnitude after music therapy. Black patients discussed spirituality more commonly during music therapy, whereas white patients focused on family bonds.ConclusionBlack and white patients reported clinically meaningful pain reduction through varying music therapy approaches. Our findings may help inform cultural adaptations of music therapy to address racial pain disparities in oncology.Copyright © 2022 American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

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