Population: 60 elders, mean age 76.4 years, admitted for surgery over a one-year period participated in this study. Participants included 32 men and 28 women.

Variables Studied: The variables studied in this research were anxiety and length of intubation. Anxiety is the most frequently identified postoperative nursing diagnosis and diminishes patients’ ability to cope, which may delay recovery. Anxiety can prolong intubation time after surgery. Music listening has demonstrated anxiety-reducing properties, and increases the relaxation response in surgical patients.

Method: The State Anxiety Inventory (STAI) and postoperative time to extubation were used to measure anxiety. Participants were randomly assigned to control or experimental group based on postoperative room assignment the night before surgery. After being informed all participants signed consent, and completed the STAI. The experimental participants chose a CD to be played during and after surgery. Three days postoperatively both groups repeated the STAI.

Findings: Differences between preoperative and postoperative STAI scores were compared using a one-way ANOVA. The pretest scores between the two groups were not significantly different (f= 0.013, p = 0.9) however the three-day postoperative STAI scores demonstrated significantly lower scores among the experimental group (f = 5.570, p = 0.05). The mean number of hours from surgery to extubation was 9 hours 57 minutes for the control group and 6 hours 34 minutes for the experimental group.

Conclusions: Music listening as a nursing intervention demonstrated a reduction in postoperative anxiety and reduced intubation time among the participants.

Implications: Nurses can use music listening as a safe and effective method to reduce postoperative anxiety and reduce intubation time thereby improving patient outcomes.

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Back to 15th International Nursing Research Congress
Sigma Theta Tau International
July 22-24, 2004