Music Intervention to Orthopedic Patients: A Possible Alternative Solution to Control Pain.

Aims and Objective. Pain is a common problem associated with postoperative orthopedic patients; the current study is aimed at evaluating music intervention as an alternative method to control pain. Methodology. The experimental design of the current study was comparative, descriptive, and quasi-experimental. 38 postoperative orthopedic patients were equipped with pocket-size MP3 players with prerecorded music tracks (instrumental and lyrical) in Hindi, English, and Urdu. After that, pre-post-pain scores were recorded with the help of designed brief patient logs. Ultimately, a satisfactory survey was completed at discharge. Major Findings. It was found that during the intervention of music, the pain was significantly reduced from 5.40 to 2.98. There was a slight relationship between listening time and pain relief. It was also found that the feedback was extremely positive and each patient suggested the use of music to others with 96.6% recommendation. Conclusion. From the current study, it was found that music intervention can be beneficial to postoperative patient pain control. Further, it is hoped that the findings of the current experimental work will lead to improvements in the care of postoperative patients.

1. Introduction

Nowadays, nurses are facing challenges to provide a better environment to patients in order to enhance patient outcomes and should be more observant of the needs of patients [1]. Patients and nurses can benefit from an optimal healing environment (OHE) through which healing can be achieved by principles of the body-mind connection. The OHE includes palpable expressions of sympathy and care like music, energy-based healing, and guided imagery [2]. Holistic nursing inspires the use of harmonizing and alternative modalities, hence increasing attention [3]. Nurses play a key role in providing an adequate healing environment to patients [2]. The present study was essential to describe the role of music therapy's effect on postoperative pain after the surgery of orthopedic patients. The control of pain is one zone where treatments like guided imagery and music have been shown very auspicious [4]. Individuals of all ages are affected by pain, socioeconomic backgrounds, and ethnic groups. It is projected that patients of 55 to 80% from postoperative pain do not get ample relief [5]. Noncontrollable pain is involved in enhancing suffering, delayed recovery, higher cost on health, and further complications [5]. The strategies for the management of pain include promoting treatment and recognition and patient involvement in their pain therapy plan, as well as the adjustment of individuals in the management of pain [6]. After the orthopedic surgery, acute pain is a usual incidence which is mostly mentioned, a very hurtful surgery [7]. It is particularly the surgery of replacement of the entire knee and is linked with greater pain during the postoperative period [8]. The major reason is the involvement of significant skeletal tissues and muscle at the time of surgical practice. After the orthopedic surgery, the successful therapy is dependent on the cooperative participation of patients and the progress of pain becomes delayed. The body receives extra stress due to pain, which can delay the recovery process [9]. The greater pain can hamper sleep, bowl/appetite function, and mobility and also leads to higher anxiety and stress [4]. In the orthopedic population, the management of successful pain needs multiple methods that comprise nonpharmacologic techniques [7]. Music therapy is nontraditional therapy that is used to reduce anxiety, relieve pain, and increase the experience of the patient. Music is one of the universal languages through which patients reduce the negative involvement like pain [4]. The gate control theory explained the effects of music on patient pain and was found to be effective. According to this theory, the nonnoxious incentives assist in closing the gate, preventing the pain from passing to the brain. Several treatments that use tension reduction or distraction, such as music listening and many other ways of recreation, interject the impulses of pain and reduce the pain sensitivity. Recently in hospitals, the role of music therapy has received enormous interest and attention [10, 11].

The current study is aimed at evaluating the role of listening to music in reducing pain in the postoperative period of orthopedic surgery patients. The subjective data was collected through a survey of satisfaction at discharge to determine the interference of music in the control of orthopedic pain. Moreover, this study is also aimed at assessing and evaluating music as an alternative method to control pain.

2. Materials and Methods

2.1. Experimental Design

The experimental work was carried among 38 patients from the orthopedic ward and trauma center, with the help of a quasi-experimental design. And this study was approved by the ethical committee of the hospital. Experimental logs were designed under the supervision of a trained statistician, and it was determined that approximately 30 to 45 patients and 90 logs would be ideal to achieve a power of >0.8.

2.2. Instruments and Music Choice

Individual small pocket-size MP3 players were given to each patient along with a headphone. The MP3 player has very few functional buttons and was easy to operate (Figure 1). Music was mixed such as instrumental (piano, guitar, and other mixed instruments) and lyrical (English, Urdu, and Hindi). Music was selected by one of the researchers that have a strong background in music. Each lyrical music track was approximately 8-9 minutes long while the instrumental music track was 25-30 minutes in total duration.

Figure 1

MP3 player used during the study.

2.3. Music Intervention and Data Collection

After assessing the inclusion criteria, informed signed consent was obtained from each eligible individual. The inclusion criteria of the study comprise the following points: age limits 18 or older, with more than 24 hours of hospital stay, fond of music, able to understand the nature of the study, and filled and completed the listening logs designed by the researchers (see Boxes 1 and 2). Each patient was interviewed immediately after coming out from the recovery room for enrollment in the study. Further, those who were still under the anesthesia influence were not included in the study. The researcher visits each individual separately and instructs how to play music and fill the logs of the questionnaire. The respondents were provided with a large envelope that contained printed instruction sheets, extra log sheets, pens, and a satisfaction survey to be completed at discharge. To provide additional comfort and control, patients were told that they can listen to any music at any time but they must fill the given form each time they listen to music. Each day, the researcher visits the patient to remind the filling of log sheets and to resolve any trouble with the MP3 player like battery low; after discharge, patients were asked to fill out the satisfaction form.

Box 1

Patient feedback for music therapy.

Box 2

Discharge feedback form (music and pain control).

2.4. Statistical Analysis

Obtained data were statistically analyzed using an Excel sheet (MS Office 2016) by applying the descriptive statistics (frequency and percentage) and paired sample t-tests for all categorical parameters.

3. Results and Discussion

A total of 38 patients participated in the study, and 65 total logs were completed by all of these patients. The number of completed logs was less than projected because some patients forgot to fill the logs or fell asleep during music listening. In addition, among these participants, n = 28 (73.68%) were female and n = 10 (26.31%) were male. The average age group was 31-45 years. The average length of hospital stay was 3.2 days. The most common surgery was total hip replacement (n = 27; 71.05%), followed by fractured hip repair (n = 5; 13.15%), andn = 3(7.89%) were admitted for total knee replacement. Further,n = 2(5.26%) were admitted for the repair of ankle fractures andn = 1(2.63%) was admitted for fractured hip repair.

After comparing findings from the logs, it was found that during the intervention of music, the pain was significantly reduced from 5.40 to 2.98. The T value is 2.390. The result can be seen in Table 1. On the other hand, only 3 patients need additional medication for pain control, even during the intervention of music. Further, from the analysis, it was also indicated that patients listened to music for varying times that range from 5 to 90 minutes with an average value of 70. There was a slight relationship between listening time and pain relief.

Table 1

The score of pain during the intervention of music to patients.

	Score of pain
	Total n	M ± SD	P value	T value
Before the intervention of music	65	5.40 ± 2.048	<0.005	2.390
After the intervention of music	65	2.98 ± 2.168

At discharge, only 30 patients return the satisfaction logs (return rate 79%). From these 30 logs, it was found that the feedback was extremely positive and each patient suggested the use of music to others with 96.6% recommendation. The average of each response is depicted in Table 2.

Table 2

Discharge satisfaction feedback by patients.

	Satisfaction scores
	5	4	3	2	1
Feel satisfied with pain control	80% (n = 24)	13.3% (n = 4)	6.6% (n = 2)	00	00
Music intervention reduce pain	86% (n = 26)	10% (n = 3)	3.3% (n = 1)	00	00
MP3 player was simple to use	60% (n = 18)	26.6% (n = 8)	13.3% (n = 4)	00	00
Would you suggest to others	96.6% (n = 29)	3.3% (n = 1)	00	00	00

Moreover, faculty members particularly nurses stated that it was very simple for the nurse to intervene in the music therapy to their nursing practices. It was also observed that they recommend music to confused or agitated patients. There are several other studies that are consistent with our findings such as [ . 2016 ">12-15].

Though this study gives wonderful outcomes, it still has certain limitations; for example, the sample size of the study was so small, coming from only one unit (orthopedics); therefore, its result cannot be generalized. Further, in the hospital, it is difficult to avoid the interruption of the busy environment during music listening. Thus, a calm and silent environment should be preferred. The researcher should find a better approach to convince and guide patients to fill logs.

4. Conclusion

From the current study, it can be concluded that patients benefited from music therapy. The further intervention of music into nursing care is the holistic approach. It is relatively inexpensive, possesses no risks, and can be administrated without the prescription of doctors. Busy nurses and patients can both work together towards pain control with the help of this method. Both nurses and patients should be trained enough to use this alternative method to achieve positive feedback.