Does music reduce postoperative pain? A review

Economidou Electra

Abstract

Does music reduce postoperative pain? A review

Background: Music therapy supports the use of music in medicine suggesting that music can reduce postoperative pain. Aim: The aim of the present study was to examine the evidence related to this hypothesis. Methods: A systematic literature search was performed to identify all studies looking at music’s impact on postoperative pain. Searches on Medline, Embase, Cinahl and Cochran Library identified four trials. Results: 886 patients, undergoing elective surgery under general anaesthesia participate in all four studies. Although the intervention was applied differently three of the studies showed that music had reduced postoperative pain, as measured with visual analogue scale (VAS). Conclusion: Music appears to be an effective non-invasive, non-pharmacological and relatively cheap intervention soma for postoperative pain management.

Author(s):

Economidou Electra

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