The Efficacy of Music Therapy

Undergoing a procedure that requires anesthesia can be anxiety provoking. Anxiety is associated with increases in heart rate and blood pressure and other changes that can have a negative impact preoperatively; during the induction, maintenance, and emergence phases of anesthesia; and postoperatively. Music therapy is a nonpharmalogical intervention that has the ability to reduce anxiety levels in some patients. This review presents research studies that have been conducted on the effects of music therapy for patients in different clinical settings. In general, the majority of the published articles reviewed revealed that listening to music was beneficial to the patient no matter the setting. Offering a music selection to patients before anesthesia could enhance its positive effect. Perianesthesia nurses could easily develop a protocol for different situations where patients will be exposed to interventions where the use of general or local anesthesia is expected. Copyright © 2010 American Society of PeriAnesthesia Nurses. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.