Pre-operative Stress Reduction With Music

NCT ID: NCT02870517

Last Updated: 2025-12-22

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

ACTIVE_NOT_RECRUITING

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

212 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2017-01-31

Study Completion Date

2026-12-31

Brief Summary

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The purpose of this study is to assess the effect of music, played prior to a surgical procedure, on stress levels during induction of anesthesia. Hypothesis: playing "calming" music, pre-selected by the investigator and the patient, beginning just prior to induction and terminating after induction will positively reduce the patient's heart rate, blood pressure, and respiratory rate during this period. For this study, noise-cancelling headphones with the ability to play music via an iPod will be utilized.

Detailed Description

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Reduced stress and relaxation positively contribute to patient healing after surgery (1). Reduction of stress associated with surgery is even more important in children, for whom a traumatic experience can have even more damaging and long-lasting effects (2). One stress-reduction technique of current interest is music. In global studies outside of the surgical realm, music has been shown to reduce heart rate, blood pressure, respiratory rate, and stress hormone levels as well as alleviate anxiety (3).

Evidence has also been found that listening to music pre-operatively in both adult and pediatric cases can reduce patients' stress and anxiety levels before surgery (3,7) Of the studies that have addressed the benefits of pre-operative music, however, none have assessed the impact of pre-operative music on stress levels during induction. In addition, almost all prior studies of the benefits of perioperative music have assessed the effect of only one style of music on each patient group. This set-up is beneficial in eliminating variables within the study design, but it fails to consider the individuality of each patient and what he/she might find to be relaxing. This study aims to assess the effect of music (selected by the pediatric patient from one of several pre-compiled playlists) played pre-operatively and during induction on patient stress levels.

Conditions

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Pediatric Pre-operative Stress

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

Primary Study Purpose

SUPPORTIVE_CARE

Blinding Strategy

NONE

Study Groups

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Relaxing Music

Participants will listen to relaxing music through noise-cancelling headphones during induction.

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Relaxing Music

Intervention Type OTHER

Relaxing music, will be played through noise-cancelling headphones during induction of anesthesia. All of the songs used in this study will have \<60 BPM, be instrumental rather than lyrical, and utilize predictable chord progressions. Music will be divided into several themed playlists which will be focused on the type of instruments involved including guitar, steel drum, and piano. The patient will listen to the music through noise-cancelling headphones beginning fifteen minutes prior to induction and ending one minute after intubation.

No Music

Participants will wear noise-cancelling headphones during induction but no music will be played through them.

Group Type ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

No Music

Intervention Type OTHER

The patient will wear noise-cancelling headphones beginning fifteen minutes prior to induction and ending one minute after intubation.

Interventions

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Relaxing Music

Relaxing music, will be played through noise-cancelling headphones during induction of anesthesia. All of the songs used in this study will have \<60 BPM, be instrumental rather than lyrical, and utilize predictable chord progressions. Music will be divided into several themed playlists which will be focused on the type of instruments involved including guitar, steel drum, and piano. The patient will listen to the music through noise-cancelling headphones beginning fifteen minutes prior to induction and ending one minute after intubation.

Intervention Type OTHER

No Music

The patient will wear noise-cancelling headphones beginning fifteen minutes prior to induction and ending one minute after intubation.

Intervention Type OTHER

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

* Aged 10 - 16 years
* Present to the OR for correction of an orthopedic complaint not involving the head or neck
* Consent to participate in the study obtained from both the guardian and child
* Patients and guardians are English-speaking

Exclusion Criteria

* Hearing impairments or ear abnormalities
* Pre-existing issues with substance abuse, anxiety, or depression
* Pre-existing psychiatric disorders
Minimum Eligible Age

10 Years

Maximum Eligible Age

16 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sponsors

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Milton S. Hershey Medical Center

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Carolyn Barbieri

Assistant Professor

Responsibility Role PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

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Carolyn Barbieri, MD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Penn State College of Medicine

Locations

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Penn State Hershey Medical Center

Hershey, Pennsylvania, United States

Site Status

Countries

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United States

References

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Holden-Lund C. Effects of relaxation with guided imagery on surgical stress and wound healing. Res Nurs Health. 1988 Aug;11(4):235-44. doi: 10.1002/nur.4770110405.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 3043570 (View on PubMed)

Oral R, Ramirez M, Coohey C, Nakada S, Walz A, Kuntz A, Benoit J, Peek-Asa C. Adverse childhood experiences and trauma informed care: the future of health care. Pediatr Res. 2016 Jan;79(1-2):227-33. doi: 10.1038/pr.2015.197. Epub 2015 Oct 13.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 26460523 (View on PubMed)

Daniel E. Music used as anti-anxiety intervention for patients during outpatient procedures: A review of the literature. Complement Ther Clin Pract. 2016 Feb;22:21-3. doi: 10.1016/j.ctcp.2015.11.007. Epub 2015 Dec 1.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 26850800 (View on PubMed)

Bradt J, Dileo C, Shim M. Music interventions for preoperative anxiety. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2013 Jun 6;2013(6):CD006908. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD006908.pub2.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 23740695 (View on PubMed)

Other Identifiers

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STUDY00005361

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id