Music therapy (MT) for terminally ill patients (PT) has been used as a complementary and multidisciplinary palliative treatment, and numerous repercussions may be present in the management of patient treatment. TM aims to relieve physical and emotional symptoms, including reducing pain and improving quality of life. In addition, it can bring support and help in communicating with family members in coping with grief. Being of great importance to individuals to be more comfortable at the end of life.

to analyze the evidence in the literature of studies related to the use of music therapy in the management of terminally ill patients.

to analyze the evidence in the literature of studies related to the use of music therapy in the management of terminally ill patients.

A systematic review was carried out under the PRISMA guidelines, through the databases: PubMed, Cinahl and Cochrane Library CENTRAL and the descriptors found in the Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) and, in the Health Sciences Descriptors (DeCS). Studies containing the descriptors “Palliative care”, “Music Therapy” and “Terminal patients” and their cognates were selected, with no restriction regarding languages.

A total of 5,836 studies were identified, 12 of which were selected for the review, and only those that described the effects of TM on PT were recruited. In 6 studies it was demonstrated that TM was able to reduce pain, in 5 articles it was identified an increase in well-being. 5 studies identified improvement in QoL through the application of a questionnaire. One study used spirituality as a relevant factor in the effectiveness of TM. Four publications analyzed the effect of TM on pre- and post-intervention discomfort, showing a reduction in discomfort after the intervention.

TM proves to be an intervention capable of generating positive responses that correspond to an increase in QoL, with effects on the clinical, physiological and psychological outcomes of individuals in the terminal phase.

The use of TM in PT is a cheap and accessible approach, which can bring many benefits to individuals who are in the final stages of life, bringing greater comfort and general well-being.