Title : Nursing practice beyond medication: Listening to music and anxiety management in the hospital setting
Abstract:
Background: Anxiolytic medications are commonly used to manage anxiety in hospitals. Research shows that alternatives like music listening could have positive effects on anxiety. Using alternative therapy like listening to music to reduce anxiety instead of medications is a simple and cost-effective treatment. In one medical-surgical unit nearly 20% of trauma patients took at least one dose of an anxiolytic medication during September 2024.
Practice question: In hospitalized non-ICU adult patients how does listening to music affect patient anxiety?
EBP Model: Johns Hopkins Model. A search of PubMed, Google Scholar, and Ovid was completed using the keywords of “trauma patients,” “anxiety” or “anxious,” “alternative therapies” or “CAM,” “non-pharmacological interventions.” Seven research articles (2019-2024) answer the question, containing strong and compelling evidence.
Evidence synthesis: Research examining the effects of listening to music on anxiety in hospitalized patients consistently shows that music interventions can significantly reduce anxiety. Multiple studies have compared intervention groups (those listening to music) with control groups (no music), demonstrating statistically significant decreases in anxiety levels. The types of music and the specifics of the interventions varied across studies, with consistent results, suggesting that music can be an effective method for anxiety reduction in hospital settings. Results were consistent among all ages and genders. One study showed progressive reduction in anxiety with multiple intervention sessions.
Practice recommendations: Research strongly supports the timeless nursing intervention of listening to music to decrease anxiety. Although none of the studies measured anxiolytic medication use, future studies are recommended to assess using music to reduce anxiety compared to medication use.
Practice Changes Planned: A future pilot (Feb 2025) is planned on the unit with patients under the trauma service. Upon admission, nurses will inform patients of the listening to music pilot. Music and anxiolytic medication use will be measured.
