Original ArticleThe Effect of Music on Postoperative Pain and Anxiety
Section snippets
Study Design
An experimental design was used to examine the effects of music and/or a quiet rest period on postoperative pain, anxiety, and physiologic parameters on postoperative day 1. The study was approved by the Institutional Review Boards at the University of Central Florida and Florida Hospital.
Sample and Setting
This study was conducted on a 32-bed orthopedic unit in a hospital in central Florida that performed 727 total knee replacements in 2007. The subjects consisted of all patients who were scheduled for a TKA
Demographic Data
A total of 56 patients participated in the study (25 men, 31 women; mean age 63.89 years, range 46-84 years). No significant differences were found between the comparative rest group and the experimental group regarding any of the demographic characteristics, including gender, age, ethnicity, or education (Table 3). Table 4 describes clinical characteristics of the sample. No significant differences were found between the two groups on any of the clinical characteristics.
Research Question 1: Music and Pain
The mean pain scores
Discussion
The difference in pain and anxiety scores between the music intervention group and the quiet rest group was not statistically significant. These findings differ from those reported by Voss et al. (2004), in which the effects of music and a rest period on pain and anxiety were examined. Voss et al. (2004) found a statistical difference in pain and anxiety scores between subjects in the music group and subjects in the rest group during chair rest in a sample of cardiac surgical patients.
Conclusions
In conclusion, the results of this study provide evidence that pain and anxiety are reduced while listening to music or having a rest period when initiated just before and just after the first ambulation after a TKA. Additionally, the study found that, overwhelmingly, patients enjoyed the music, reporting that the music helped them to forget about their pain for a while and improved their general mood. Use of this intervention could be implemented into the routine plan of care for patients with
Acknowledgements
The authors are grateful for the support of M. Lindell Joseph PhD, RN and the Center for Nursing Research and Innovation at Florida Hospital. The authors also thank the nurses and physical therapists on the orthopedic unit where this study was conducted and the team in preadmission testing where consenting of participants took place.
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