Music used as anti-anxiety intervention for patients during outpatient procedures: A review of the literature.

Numerous patients experience anxiety before minor medical procedures [1]. Because patients' experiences are highly individualized, their distress may range from mild to moderate. For a decade, music-based complementary therapy has received increased attention because of the therapeutic and healing environment it creates for patients undergoing invasive procedures [13]. The purpose of this structured literature review is to assess the current evidence regarding the effectiveness of music as an intervention that decreases anxiety for patients undergoing minor medical procedures in outpatient healthcare settings.