Impact of Music Relaxation Therapy and Snyder’s Hope Theory-Based Nursing on Psychological and Physical Status of Postoperative Patients with Breast Cancer Undergoing Chemotherapy

Objective: This study aimed to analyse the effects of integrated music relaxation therapy and Snyder’s hope theory-based nursing on the psychological and physical status of postoperative patients with breast cancer undergoing chemotherapy. Methods: This retrospective study analysed 128 patients with breast cancer who underwent radical mastectomy (RM) with adjuvant chemotherapy (August 2022–August 2024), stratified by nursing protocol timing: control ( n = 45, routine care, August 2022–April 2023), hope ( n = 42, routine care + Snyder’s hope theory-based nursing, May–December 2023) and music groups ( n = 41, routine care + hope theory nursing + music relaxation therapy, January–August 2024). The cancer-related fatigue status [Cancer Fatigue Scale (CFS)], subjective well-being [Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS)], coping styles [Medical Coping Modes Questionnaire (MCMQ)], health behaviours [Health-Promoting Lifestyle Profile-II (HPLP-II)] and readiness to return to work [Readiness for Return-to-Work (RRTW) scale] of the three groups were compared before and after four chemotherapy cycles of nursing. Results: After four chemotherapy cycles of nursing, the CFS score, MCMQ avoidance and resignation dimension scores of the music group were lower than those of the conventional and hope groups, whereas the SWLS, MCMQ confrontation dimension, HPLP-II and RRTW scores were higher. The CFS score, MCMQ avoidance and resignation dimension scores of the hope group were lower than those of the conventional group, whereas the SWLS, MCMQ confrontation dimension, HPLP-II and RRTW scores were higher ( P < 0.05). Conclusion: The integrated caring method of music relaxation therapy and Snyder’s hope theory-based nursing may contribute to alleviating cancer-related fatigue, enhancing subjective well-being and health-promoting behaviours, potentially facilitating adaptive coping strategies and improving return-to-work readiness in patients post-RM chemotherapy.