Abstract

AIM: To evaluate the effect of music on the anxiety levels and vital parameters of patients undergoing refractive surgery under topical anaesthesia.
METHODS: After screening for inclusion and exclusion criteria, we included 100 participants undergoing refractive surgery for the study. The participants were randomly assigned into music group and control group with 50 participants each. Anxiety levels were assessed using State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) questionnaire before and after the music therapy. Vital parameters (heart rate and blood pressure) was recorded pre-operatively and intraoperatively. The data was compared and analysed.
RESULTS: There were 50 patients each in music and control group with similar demographic profile and baseline STAI-S score. The music group reported a reduction in anxiety score following 1-hour of pre-operative music therapy, but the difference was not statistically significant (P-value = 1.18). Mean heart rate during surgerywas lower in music group (91.7 + 24.75) compared to control group (97 + 7.07) and this difference was statistically significant (P-value < 0.05). No significant difference was found between groups in blood pressure.
CONCLUSION: Listening to music preoperatively can alleviate patient’s anxiety and improve the patient satisfaction with the procedure.