Music as an Adjuvant Therapy in Postoperative Pain and Physiologic Parameters: Pre-Test, Post-Test Intervention Study

Abstract

Background
Poorly controlled postoperative pain remains a significant challenge. Music is a safe, inexpensive, non-invasive intervention that can be used in managing pain in surgical patients.
Objectives
To evaluate effectiveness of music intervention as an adjuvant therapy in attenuating postoperative pain among patients with tibia/fibula fractures.
Methodology
A cross-sectional pre-test, post-test intervention study design was utilized to conduct a study involving 20 tibia-fibula patients, divided equally into intervention and control groups. Self-selected music was administered for 20 minutes to the intervention group once on day-3 after surgery. Data was collected using a demographic questionnaire and Visual Analogue Scale (VAS).Data was analyzed using SPSS software version 29.0. Descriptive statistics analyzed continuous and categorical data. T-test compared means of physiologic parameters and pain levels in pre-and post-intervention. ANCOVA established the relationship between music and post-intervention pain levels.
Findings
Use of music alongside conventional therapy significantly reduced pain in the intervention group than in the control group (P = 0.014). Music had no statistically significant impact on the physiological parameters.
Conclusion
Music therapy is effective as an adjuvant therapy for pain management and can therefore reduce the use of analgesics among surgical patients.
Rwanda J Med Health Sci 2023;6(3):290-302