Effect of Listening To Preferred Music on Physiologic Parameters in Patients with Severe Traumatic Brain Injury: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Background and aim: Pain, stress and anxiety is common experiences among critically ill patients in intensive care units. High level of stress and anxiety may be affect critically ill patients hemodynamic situation negatively. In present study, we used music as a non-pharmacologic method with this hypothesis that music distracts patients’ attention and decreases their heart rate, blood pressure, body temperature, and respiratory rate. Material and methods: In a randomized controlled clinical trial, 38 patients who were admitted to ICU because of severe head injury were randomly assigned to group "A" (control group) or group "B" (intervention group). Patients in group “A” received usual care. In addition to usual care, patients in group “B” listened preferred music (music played by MP4 player with special headphones for 30 minutes two time per day (7 am and 18 pm) for two week. Patients’ physiologic parameters (heart rate, oxygen saturation, diastolic and systolic blood pressure) were measured with using standard apparatus (S1800-ER model) by researcher (PD) immediately before, immediately after and 30 minute after intervention. Results: The demographic characteristics including age, sex, marital status and level of education in time of ICUs admission were similar in patients in group “A” and “B” (p>0.05). All hemodynamic parameters in present study showed more stability in patients who listened to music in compared to patients in control group. However these differences in all time were not statistically significant. Conclusion: According to finding of present study, listening to preferred music has not negative effect on critically ill patients’ hemodynamic parameter. Music should be considered by clinicians as a non-pharmacological, non-invasive, simple, cheap, safe, and effective method for reliving patients’ distress in severe head injury patients in ICUs. Keywords: Head injury, critically ill patients, ICU, music therapy