Pain is a common and serious problem surrounding surgical procedures. While medication is one way of addressing that pain, many people are interested in exploring non-pharmacological options to replace or augment medication. Music therapy is one of these options, and there is a growing field of study on it’s ability to treat pain and other problems like anxiety.
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To answer the following question: In acutely ill surgical patients, does music therapy versus no music therapy reduce pain levels during the perioperative period of their hospital stay?
- Databases: Cochrane, CINAHL, and PubMed
- Keywords: Music therapy, perioperative pain, acute care, hospital stay
- Inclusion Criteria: Hospital setting, music therapy addressing pain, adult-focused
- Exclusion Criteria: Pediatric patients, non-research, multiple complementary therapies used, not relevant
- 13 studies met the criteria:
- 6 RCTs
- 1 Quasi-experimental
- 1 Non-experimental study
- 1 Literature review
- 2 Systematic reviews
- 2 Systematic reviews with meta-analysis
- Positive correlation between music therapy and pain control
- On average blood pressure and heart rate were lower
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- Music as an adjunctive therapy serves to reduce perioperative pain and anxiety
- Music may increase patient satisfaction with surgical experience as a cost-effective intervention
- Perioperative music interventions show potential to reduce physiological stress responses
- Music as an auxiliary therapy may reduce opioid use post-operatively
- Recommend increased collaboration between the nursing staff and music therapists
- Evaluate a patient’s desire to include music therapy in their perioperative journey, and what kind of music they may prefer
The Effect of Music Therapy on Perioperative Pain
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Emma Hearington, Madison McLean, Nell Fountain, Sarah Shaller, Zahra Alisa
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