Music Reduces Patient Anxiety During Mohs Surgery: An Open-Label Randomized Controlled Trial

Journal

Dermatologic Surgery

Year

2013

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Many patients undergoing Mohs micrographic surgery (MMS) experience anxiety and stress. Although music has been proven to reduce anxiety and promote relaxation in other fields of medicine, scant research investigates the effect of music on anxiety during MMS. OBJECTIVES: To determine whether music can reduce anxiety in patients undergoing MMS. METHODS AND MATERIALS: An open-labeled randomized controlled trial was conducted to assess anxiety before and after listening to music. Subjects undergoing MMS were randomly allocated to listen to self-selected music (n = 50) or to have surgery without music (n = 50). Anxiety was measured using the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) and on a visual analog scale (VAS). RESULTS: Subjects in the music group experienced statistically significantly lower STAI and VAS scores than those in the control group. STAI and VAS scores were significantly lower in subjects who underwent MMS for the first time. Anxiety measures did not correlate with sex or type of skin cancer. CONCLUSION: Listening to self-selected music reduces anxiety in patients undergoing MMS, especially those who undergo MMS for the first time. Presenting patients the opportunity to listen to music is a simple strategy to minimize anxiety during MMS.

Music and Health Institute Terms

Anxiety; Cancer; Music Listening; Receptive Music Methods; Stress; Surgery

Indexed Terms

Elderly; Elderly; Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; Anxiety; Chi-Square Distribution; Mohs Surgery; Skin Neoplasms

Study Type

Randomized Controlled Trial; Quantitative Methods

Document Type

Article

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