Effects of Patient-Selected Music Listening on the Pain and Anxiety of Patients Undergoing Hemodialysis: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Abstract

This study aimed to analyze the influence of patient-selected music listening on the pain and anxiety levels of hemodialysis patients after undergoing a vascular access operation. Methods: Sixty five patients were randomly assigned to the experimental group (n = 32) or the control group (n = 33). The experimental group was instructed to listen to their favorite music using headphones during their operations at the center. The control group underwent the operations without listening to any music. The pain measurement during vascular access operation was measured by subjective pain and objective pain behavior; anxiety was measured by subjective anxiety and anxiety states. Results: The experimental group reported significantly lower subjective pain levels than the control group (t = 9.36, p = 0.003). Regarding objective pain behaviors, the experimental group had a significantly lower score than the control group (t = 4.59, p = 0.036). The experimental group had significantly lowered subjective anxiety compared to the control group (F = 10.10, p = 0.002). Regarding anxiety states, the experimental group had significantly lower scores than the control group (F = 23.34, p < 0.001). Conclusion: The results suggest that patient-selected music listening reduced hemodialysis patients’ pain and anxiety levels during vascular access operations. Therefore, music medicine can be included as a new clinical intervention.

Non-Pharmacological Interventions for Pain Management in Hemodialysis: A Narrative Review

“…Lastly, through neurochemical modulation, music induces the release of endorphins, which can act as analgesics to minimize pain sensations [ 61 , 62 ]. A study examined the effect of listening to patient-selected music on the pain and anxiety levels of hemodialysis patients during vascular access operations [ 63 ]. The experimental group listened to their favorite music during their operations, while the control group did not.…”

“…The experimental group listened to their favorite music during their operations, while the control group did not. The experimental group had drastically reduced subjective pain levels, objective pain behaviors, and lower levels of subjective anxiety and anxiety states compared to the controls [ 63 ]. These results suggest that music medicine can be a useful clinical intervention to reduce pain and anxiety in hemodialysis patients [ 63 ].…”

Factors Affecting Pain in Hemodialysis and Non-pharmacological Management

“…Similarly, in a study with 65 dialysis patients, it was shown that participants who were listening to music during vascular access surgery had significantly lower perceived levels of pain than the control group [ 33 ]. In a similar study with 55 patients who underwent fistula surgery, patients who listened to music during the fistula surgery had significantly lower anxiety and better heart rate, respiratory rate, and oxygen saturation than the control group [ 25 ].…”

“…When people listen to their desired music, it helps them reduce the feeling of pain possibly because music affects the autonomic nervous system and leads to emotional and physiological improvement [ 33 ]. Music therapy can lead to hemodynamic changes, such as reduced heart rate and blood pressure [ 24 ], while it increases positive emotions and reduces negative emotions [ 34 ] Additionally, it acts as an analgetic because it releases dopamine and endorphins, which, in turn, balances the autonomic nervous system [ 34 ].…”

The transformative power of music: Insights into neuroplasticity, health, and disease

“…Music benefit individuals both in health and disease. Several studies show that many painful conditions and disorders can be alleviated by music ( Düzgün and Karadakovan, 2021 ; Feneberg et al, 2021 ; Gauba et al, 2021 ; Kim and Jeong, 2021 ; Monsalve-Duarte et al, 2021 ; C. Wang and Tian, 2021 ). When a painful stimulus is applied to volunteers under control conditions while listening to their favorite songs, they report lower pain rating scores as music modulates pain responses in cortical regions, brainstem and spinal cord ( Dobek et al, 2014 ).…”