The effects of music in cardiac surgery patients: early results

Funding Acknowledgements

Type of funding sources: Private hospital(s). Main funding source(s): Sundry fund to Massachusetts General Hospital.

Background/Significance

Research into the health benefits of music has expanded, driven by a desire to see how it can be better applied in healthcare. There has been an interest in the chemical and biological biomarkers of music. Most studies have focused on physical, and psychological findings. There have been few systematic studies that consider the parallel psychological, physical, and biological effects of music in cardiac surgical patients.

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to measure psychological, physiological, and biological responses to a music intervention compared to standard of care in cardiac surgical patients. The primary outcome is serum cortisol levels pre and post a 30-minute music intervention compared to the standard of care group. The secondary outcomes are state anxiety, pain, blood pressure, heart rate, respirations, and serum Immunoglobulin A (IgA).

Methods

This is a randomized, placebo-controlled, pre/post clinical trial to compared responses to the study intervention of music versus standard of care. Psychological responses were measured for anxiety by the Spielberger State Anxiety Scale, and pain by a visual analogy scale, physical responses were measured by blood pressure, heart rate, and respirations, and the biologic markers were measured by serum cortisol and IgA.

Results

Sixty-three patients were approached, 14 were excluded and 25 declined participation. Most patients who declined stated that they did not feel well enough to participate or did not want more blood samples taken.

There were 20 subjects, 15 males and 5 females, mean age of 58.8 years, who did participate. The groups were similar on demographics and pre intervention outcome measures. There was no difference between standard of care and treatment group in the primary outcome, serum cortisol levels (17.8+7.4 vs 15.6+7.6) and no differences in the secondary outcomes post the intervention period.

Conclusions

This is the early results of a study on use of music as a nursing intervention in cardiac surgery patients. Subject enrollment will continue to provide evidence of the benefits for patients after cardiac surgery.

Implications for Nursing Practice

Nurses are poised to provide the evidence for non-pharmacological interventions to enhance the patient experience after cardiac surgery.