Effect of preferred music listening on pain reduction in mechanically ventilated patients after coronary artery bypass graft surgery

Background: Pain is a symptom of discomfort or tissue injury experienced by patients. Amongpatients in intensive care unit (ICU), pain is a common phenomenon. Objectives: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of preferred music listening on behavioral measures of pain, as an indicator of pain assessment, in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG). Patients and Methods: This blinded clinical trial was performed on 60 patients admitted to ICU following CABG. Patients intubated and those under mechanical ventilation were unable to report their pain. The study population was randomly divided into two groups of control and music intervention groups (preferred music listening). In the intervention group, preferred music (including classical, instrumental and traditional music as well as Quran recitation) was played via a headphone for 30 minutes. In the control group, patients were in bed at the same time and only mute headphones were used. The pain levels of patients were assessed at three time intervals; a) during rest, b) 10 minutes prior to receiving music, following a painful procedure (e.g., change of position for dressing change) and c) in the final 3 minutes of music following a painful procedure using the method of “critical care pain observation tools” (CPOT). Results: The mean pain behavior scale score 10 minutes prior to receiving music, following a painful procedure, was 2.77 ± 1.04 in the music intervention group and 2.33 ± 1.12 in the control group. The score increased after a painful procedure compared to that before the procedure in the control group and reached 2.67 ± 1.124; this increase (0.34 unit) in the control group was statistically significant (P = 0.008). In contrast, the score in the music intervention group dropped to 2.20 ± 1.06 and statistical tests showed a significantly reduced pain behavior scale score in the music intervention group (P < 0.001). Conclusions: The results of this study showed beneficial effect of preferred music listening on reducing pain sensation during painful procedures in intubated patients after CABG