Preoperative anxiety and pain can adversely affect recovery and satisfaction. Music is a safe, low-cost, non-pharmacological intervention that may enhance perioperative outcomes. This study evaluated the effects of patient-preferred music on anxiety, recovery, pain, satisfaction, and hemodynamics during unilateral knee arthroplasty under spinal anesthesia. In this prospective, randomized, controlled, single-blind trial, 80 patients were assigned to either a music group (Group M) or a control group (Group C). Group M listened to preferred music via headphones before and during surgery, while Group C received standard care. Anxiety (State-Trait Anxiety Inventory; state: STAI-S, trait: STAI-T), recovery (Quality of Recovery-15 QoR-15), pain (Numeric Rating Scale NRS), satisfaction, and hemodynamic parameters were measured. Minimal clinically important difference (MCID) analyses were used to assess clinical significance. Sixty-five patients (Group M: 32; Group C: 33) were analyzed. Postoperative STAI-S scores were significantly lower in Group M (p = .001), with a 6.18-point difference exceeding the MCID by 283%. QoR-15 scores were higher in Group M (p = .007), surpassing the MCID by 123%. Group M also showed lower systolic blood pressure at several perioperative points (p p = .001), and reduced need for rescue analgesia (p = .035). Satisfaction was significantly greater in Group M (p = .001). No significant differences were found in heart rate (p > .05). Patient-preferred music significantly improved anxiety, pain, recovery quality, hemodynamic stability, and satisfaction. MCID analysis confirmed clinical relevance. Music may serve as an effective and feasible adjunct in perioperative care.
Nalbant et al. (Sat,) studied this question.