Effects of Music Therapy on Oxygen Saturation in Premature Infants Receiving Endotracheal Suctioning

The purpose of this study was to investigate how premature infants’ oxygen saturation changed in response to music therapy while they were receiving endotracheal suctioning. A convenience sample of 30 premature infants was selected from three neo natal intensive care units. A one-group repeated measures design was adopted for this study. The oxygen saturation of all subjects was first measured while they were receiving endotracheal suctioning during a four-hour control period with regular care. Then, four hours after the control period was completed, an experimental period began in which the music “Transitions” was played. One minute be fore suctioning, the level of oxygen sat u ration was measured to pro vide the base line data. During a period of 30 minutes after suctioning, the oxygen saturation was recorded every minute to analyze the clinical effects of music therapy. The results showed that premature infants receiving music therapy with endotracheal suctioning had a significantly higher SPO2 than that when not receiving music therapy (p ＜ .01), and the level of oxygen saturation re turned to the base line level faster than when they did not receive music therapy (p ＜ .01). Accordingly, it is hoped that giving appropriate music therapy as develop mental care to pre mature infants when per forming any nursing intervention may enhance not only the quality of nursing care but also quality of the infant’s life.