Effects of Music Listening During Port Catheter Insertion on Anxiety, Fear, and Procedural Pain in Cancer Patients: A Randomized Controlled Study

Background Port catheter insertion is a common but anxiety-inducing invasive procedure for cancer patients. Listening to music is a simple, non-pharmacological method that may help relieve anxiety, fear, and pain during procedures. Objective To determine the effect of music listening during port catheter insertion on anxiety, fear, and pain levels among cancer patients. Methods A single-centre, single-blind randomized controlled study was conducted in the interventional radiology unit of a tertiary hospital. One hundred patients scheduled for port catheter insertion under local anesthesia were randomly assigned to either a music group (n = 50) or a control group (n = 50). The music group listened to Acemaşiran Maqam through headphones during the procedure, while the control group received standard care. Data were collected using the State Anxiety Inventory, Surgical Fear Questionnaire, and Visual Analogue Scale. Results After the procedure, anxiety and fear scores were significantly lower in the music group than in the control group (p < 0.001). The mean pain score was also lower among patients who listened to music (p = 0.037). In addition, post-procedure systolic and diastolic blood pressure and respiratory rate values were significantly lower in the music group (p < 0.005). Conclusion Listening to music during port catheter insertion effectively reduces anxiety, fear, and pain, while supporting physiological stability. Integrating music listening into port catheter insertion procedures can serve as a simple, cost-effective, and non-pharmacological nursing intervention to reduce patients’ anxiety, fear, and pain while promoting comfort and physiological stability in oncology settings.