The Effect of Music on Physiological Indices of Patients Admitted to Intensive Care Units: A Clinical Trial

Providing nursing care that has the least complication and highest efficacy in ill patients is the most important goal in nursing care. This study aimed to investigate the effect of music on the physiological indices of traumatic patients admitted to trauma Intensive Care Units (ICU) in Qazvin. Actually, this study was carried out in order to examine the efficacy of music as a simple and uncomplicated intervention in improving the physiological symptoms of abnormalities, thus helping to improve nursing care and reduce hospitalization time.

This study was a clinical trial with code of ethics IR.QUMS.REC.1397.276. The study population consisted of traumatic patients admitted to trauma ICU in Qazvin in 2018-2019. Patients with inclusion criteria were selected based on the Stress Pain Sampling and were randomly assigned into control (n=27) and intervention (n=27) groups. In the control group, only routine day care was performed for the patients. In the selected music test group, the patients received headphones for 15 minutes during seven days. The data collection tool in this study was three questionnaires: a) demographic information questionnaire and b) checklist of vital signs status. Data were analyzed using SPSS Version 23 software  and descriptive and inferential statistics tests (independent t-test, Mann-Whitney, Chi-square and Fisher exact test). The significance level of all tests was considered p <0.05.

In this study, 54 samples were included in the statistical analysis. Demographic characteristics were not significantly different between the two groups (p> 0.05). After the intervention in the sixth and seventh days of the study, there was a statistically significant difference in the mean pulse rate, respiratory rate and blood oxygen saturation in the two groups (P <0.05). In regards to the temperature of the patients, there was no statistical differences between two groups (p> 0.05).

The results of this study showed that gentle music play for 15 minutes during seven days increase oxygen saturation and decrease pulse rate, respiration, blood pressure but does not affect body temperature. Music seems to be a cheap, safe and easy intervention for coma patients with critical conditions as a viable solution to improve the status of their vital signs.