Evaluating the effect of music on anxiety during mammography breast cancer screening

Abstract

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate whether the introduction of music medicine (MM) during a mammography examination, has an effect on the anxiety level experienced by clients undergoing breast cancer screening. Methodology: A quantitative, prospective and experimental design was followed to carry out this study. 50 clients who met the inclusion and exclusion criteria, were recruited. The participants were equally assigned to the experimental and control group via convenient sampling. Clients in both groups were imaged according to the local protocol, with the exception of those in the experimental group, who were additionally exposed to music. Anxiety levels were measured before and after the screening via the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory for Adults, tool. Results: Clients in both experimental and control groups, experienced a significant higher pre-test state anxiety levels (24.68, 25.28 respectively) than their pre-test trait anxiety levels (20.24, 21.96). The latter anxiety scores indicates that mammography induces anxiety. In addition, clients in both groups experienced a significant decrease in anxiety after the screening (17.68, 17.84 for the experimental and control group respectively). It was noted that there was not statistical difference (p=0.907) between the state anxiety levels of both groups after the test. Conclusions: From the results obtained, there was no significant evidence that music has an effect on decreasing anxiety in mammography clients. However, the lack of significance may be due to the small sample size of this study. Thus, further studies can include a larger sample size, with participants’ ranging from 50 to 70 years of age. In addition, participants may be given a choice of music and should have MM prior the mammogram, such as in the waiting room. Nonetheless, results displayed a reduction in anxiety in the experimental group, even though it was non-significant when compared to the control group. Therefore, it is suggested that MM should be used in the clinical setting since it is non-invasive and cheap.