Anxiolytic effects of intraoperative music therapy in adults undergoing local anaesthetic interventions

Abstract

Topic Overview: Intraoperative anxiety is a commonly experienced feeling amongst patients undergoing surgery. Moreover, conscious patients are exposed to the multiple environmental factors triggering this emotion. Apprehension and fear are common emotions interlinked with associated intraoperative anxiety. Several concerning complications are associated with this emotion during surgery, many of which include severe cardiac related events, such as heart failure and acute myocardial infarction, extreme postoperative pain, increased requirement of analgesic, sedation and anaesthetic demand, extended hospital stay, and reduced patient satisfaction. In this review, the effect of intraoperative music therapy to alleviate anxiety in adults undergoing surgery will be studied. Research Question: Does intraoperative music alleviate anxiety in adults undergoing local anaesthetic surgical interventions? Pico Elements: The Population (P) studied was adults aged 18-80 years old undergoing local anaesthetic interventions. The Intervention (I) observed was the exposure of intraoperative music therapy. The Comparison (C) was against patients undergoing surgery without being subject to music therapy. The desired Outcome (O) was the alleviation of intraoperative anxiety. Methods: Key elements of the PICO question were identified and utilized to generate alternative terms. Subsequently, Boolean Operators were used to combine these terms. Search results were narrowed down by means of limiters and selected databases; EBSCO, PubMed and ScienceDirect were used to execute the search. The PRISMA 2009 framework was used as a guideline in excluding irrelevant studies. Assessment of study eligibility was done by applying inclusion/exclusion criteria. Appraisal of literature was done by using The Critical Appraisal Skills Programme (CASP) tool as a framework. Results: A total of five studies were identified. These included randomised control trials. Two of these studies identified statistical significance whilst the remaining three failed to do so. The overall result of these studies was inconclusive and inconsistent in attempting to answer whether intraoperative music therapy alleviates anxiety in patients undergoing local anaesthetic interventions. Conclusion: The presentation of a definite conclusion is not possible. However, evidence is promising and pointing towards the likelihood of beneficial outcomes resulting from the intervention of interest if further research is carried out. Implications and Recommendations: Providing patients with the choice of selecting their preferred music if given consent to undergo surgery with the exposure of music therapy. Possible implementation of various cost-effective audio devices in operating theatres. Education about the benefits of intraoperative music therapy to the general public and healthcare professionals. The use of larger sample sizes, reduction in attrition rate through various techniques and thorough examination of demographic characteristics should be implemented in future studies.