Purpose
The aim of the study was to determine if listening to music may reduce anxiety experienced by stroke patients during acute rehabilitation.
Design
A prospective, nonblinded, randomized study in an inpatient rehabilitation setting.
Methods
Fifty participants were randomized into two groups: (1) 1 hour of music (intervention) or (2) no music (control). All participants completed pretest anxiety and depression screening and 44 completed the posttest anxiety screening. Differences between groups were determined using chi-square and t tests.
Findings
After listening to music for 1 hour, participants who completed the posttest (n = 44) reported significantly less anxiety (p < .0001) compared to before the intervention. The control group showed no difference in their pre- and posttest anxiety scores (p = .84). No differences were determined among age, gender, or diagnostic groups.
Conclusions
These findings demonstrate that music intervention may help lessen anxiety in rehabilitation patients poststroke.
Clinical Relevance
Offering musical intervention to stroke patients in rehabilitation may lessen symptoms of anxiety.
Nurses caring for patients with acute stroke are likely to administer both music and medication with therapeutic intent. The administration of medication is based on accumulated scientific evidence and tailored to the needs of each patient. However, the therapeutic use of music is generally based on good intentions and anecdotal evidence. This review summarizes and examines the current literature regarding the effectiveness of music in the treatment of critically ill patients and the use of music in neurologically injured patients. The rationale for hypothesis-driven research to explore therapeutic music intervention in acute stroke is compelling. (Critical Care Nurse. 2016;36[2]:e1-e7) "Music hath charms to soothe the savage breast." W. Congreve, The Mourning Bride M usic has long been used in health care for its healing powers and has given rise to the practice of music therapy. The American Music Therapy Association defines music therapy as the "clinical and evidence-based use of music interventions to accomplish individualized goals within a therapeutic relationship by a credentialed professional who has completed an approved music therapy program."1 Board-certified music therapists employ customized music therapy interventions based on the best evidence from published literature, their training and expertise, and the needs of the patient.1 Music therapy is powerful, physically noninvasive, and can mediate positive outcomes when
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