Music reduces panic: an initial study of listening to preferred music improves male patient discomfort and anxiety during flexible cystoscopy

Abstract

Purpose: To assess the impact of listening to preferred music on relieving male patients' pain and anxiety during flexible cystoscopy.

Patients and methods: A total of 124 male patients were admitted to our hospital for flexile cystoscopy by a single urologist between January 2013 and September 2013 and randomized to two equal groups. Group 2 included 62 patients who could select and listen to their preferred music during flexible cystoscopy. Group 1 included 62 patients who were unable to listen to the music. All patients were administered the same amount of lidocaine (10 mL) for 3 minutes for local anesthesia before flexible cystoscopy. A visual analog scale (VAS) ranging from 0 to 10 was used to assess patients' pain feeling after the cystoscopy procedure. Anxiety levels were calculated according to the State Instrument of State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI-S), and the pulse rate were recorded 5 minutes before and immediately after the procedure. The duration of the procedure of each group were also analyzed.

Results: Statistically significant differences were detected between group 1 and group 2 in the mean pain score on VAS (2.53 ± 1.34 vs 1.63 ± 1.09, P=0.002, Mann-Whitney U test), mean postprocedural State Anxiety Inventory pain score (39.4 ± 6.5 vs 34.5 ± 5.8), and postprocedural pulse rate (79.8 ± 5.5 vs 76.0 ± 7.3) (P<0.001 for both, t test). Patients who listened to their preferred music experienced less discomfort and lower anxiety at cystoscopy. Patient age, duration of the procedure, preprocedural STAI-S, and preprocedural pulse rate of each group were comparable.

Conclusion: Listening to preferred music during flexible cystoscopy is an easy way to improves male patients' comfort and reduce their anxiety. It could be recommended for male patients.

Figures

FIG. 1.

Box plots of pain score (visual analog scale [VAS]) showed difference in pain level between the two groups. VAS score was 2.53±1.34 in group 1 (no music) and 1.63±1.09 in group 2 (music); patients who listened to their preferred music experienced less discomfort at cystoscopy.

FIG. 2.

Data point graphs for no-music and music groups pre- and post-treatment with mean and interquartile ranges. The graphs showed reduction of the anxiety levels (State Instrument of State-Trait Anxiety Inventory [STAI-S] score) in both groups after flexible cystoscopy, but the postprocedural STAI-S score in the music group (34.5±5.8) was less than the no-music group (39.4±6.5), P<0.001.

FIG. 3.

Data point graphs for no-music and music groups pre- and post-treatment with mean and interquartile ranges. The graphs show increase of pulse rate in both groups after flexible cystoscopy, but the postprocedural pulse rate in the music group (76.0±7.3) was less than in the no-music group (79.8±5.5), P=0.002.