The effect of a musical starry sky projector on fatigue, sleep, and quality of life in pediatric oncology patients: a randomized controlled trial

Abstract

Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the effect of an Ocean Wave and LED Starry Sky Projector on fatigue, sleep, and quality of life (QoL) in pediatric oncology patients. Methods: This randomized controlled trial included 60 pediatric oncology patients aged 8 to 18 years who were newly diagnosed with cancer and undergoing chemotherapy. Participants were randomly allocated into two groups: intervention (n = 30) and control (n = 30). The intervention group received standard care plus nightly exposure to an Ocean Wave and LED Starry Sky Projector for 30 minutes before sleep, over a period of 1 week. The control group received standard care only. Data were collected using the Adolescent Information Form, Pediatric Quality of Life Scale, Visual Sleep Scale, and Fatigue Intensity Scale. Fatigue and sleep quality were assessed daily, while QoL was evaluated on the first and seventh days. Results: The descriptive characteristics of children in the intervention and control groups were found to be homogeneously distributed. Although no statistically significant difference was observed in sleep quality between the groups on the first day (P > .05), significant differences favoring the intervention group were found from the second to the seventh day (P < .05). Similarly, no significant differences were found in fatigue levels between the two groups throughout the week (P > .05). There was no statistically significant difference in the mean scores of the “Pediatric Quality of Life Scale” between the groups (P > .05). Conclusions: This study found that the ocean wave and LED starry sky projector significantly improved sleep quality over time in pediatric oncology patients but had no significant effect on fatigue or QoL. Implications for Nursing Practice: Nurses can use musical projectors as a noninvasive, cost-effective tool to improve sleep quality in pediatric oncology patients during treatment. © 2025 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.