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. 2016 Nov 3:3:33472.
doi: 10.3402/ecrj.v3.33472. eCollection 2016.

Music does not alter anxiety in patients with suspected lung cancer undergoing bronchoscopy: a randomised controlled trial

Elisabeth Jeppesen  1 , Carsten M Pedersen  2 , Klaus R Larsen  3 , Anne Rehl  3 , Karen Bartholdy  3 , Emil S Walsted  3 , Vibeke Backer  3
Affiliations

Music does not alter anxiety in patients with suspected lung cancer undergoing bronchoscopy: a randomised controlled trial

Elisabeth Jeppesen et al. Eur Clin Respir J. .

Abstract

Background: The use of music to relieve anxiety has been examined in various studies, but the results are inconclusive.

Methods: From April to October 2015, 160 patients undergoing examination of pulmonary nodules were randomly assigned to MusiCure or no music. MusiCure was administered through earplugs to ensure blinding of the staff and was played from admission to the operating theatre to the end of the bronchoscopy. Spielberger's State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) was administered on admission, immediately before bronchoscopy, and on discharge. Secondary outcomes were p-cortisol, physiological variables, dosage of sedatives, movements measured by Actigraph, bronchoscopy duration, number of re-examinations, and overall perception of the sounds in the operating theatre measured by Visual analogue scale.

Results: The STAI scores were similar on admission, but after a 10-min wait in the operating theatre, scores varied significantly between patients with and without music, with lower scores in the music group [median (interquartile range, IQR) 35 (18) vs. 43 (25); p=0.03]. Post hoc multiple regression revealed treatment group as insignificant when adjusting for sex and baseline anxiety. However, there was a significantly more positive perception of the sounds in the operating theatre in the music group (median (IQR) 8.2 (1.8) vs. 5.4 (6.8); p<0.0001) and fewer re-examinations in the music group (19.2% vs. 7.7%, p<0.032).

Conclusions: Ten minutes with MusiCure does not alter anxiety when adjusting for baseline anxiety and sex. The current study indicates that this field of research has many confounders.

Keywords: MusiCure; STAI; bronchoscopy; lung cancer; music.

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Conflict of interest statement

and funding The authors have not received any funding or benefits from industry or elsewhere to conduct this study.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
In the study period 160 patients with pulmonary nodules were randomly assigned to either MusiCure or as control group. Nine patients dropped out after randomisation, leaving 78 participants to receive MusiCure and 73 patients in the control group.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Patients’ overall perception of the sounds in connection with the procedure. The horizontal lines represent the median within the group.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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