The Impact of Music on Patients After Cardiac Surgery

Background: Cardiac surgery causes adverse physical and psychological responses. Listening to music could modulate these responses. Objective: To measure physical/psychological responses pre and post 30 minutes of music (TX) compared with usual care (UC) in patients after cardiac surgery. Methods: In this randomized, 2-group trial the impact of listening to music was examined in a sample of adults, ages 18–89 years who had undergone cardiac surgery. Cortisol, immunoglobulin A, vital signs, pain, and anxiety data were collected pre and post study period. Results: There were 120 subjects, 61 in the TX group and 59 in the UC group. There were 84 males and 36 females, with mean age of 62.4 years. There were no differences between TX and UC groups on preintervention outcomes. Postintervention, the TX group had lower pain scores (3.8 vs. 4.5, P < .04) and lower heart rate (beats per minute) (78 vs. 81, P < .05) compared with the UC group. Conclusion: Listening to music may be effective in reducing pain, and lowering heart rate, serving as a safe adjunct for pain management after cardiac surgery.