Current Anesthesia Education Practices Regarding Music as an Adjunct for Analgesia and Anxiolysis

Background: Music has been proven as an effective complementary and alternative medicine, and can be an important tool for nurse anesthetist. Objectives: The purpose of this project was to assess if nurse anesthesia programs are including music as a part of the complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) curriculum for anxiety and pain in the perioperative setting. Method: A descriptive survey was sent to program directors of nurse anesthesia programs in the United States to assess the current level of awareness and education regarding music as an alternative medicine as well as barriers to the addition of music into curriculum. Results: Twenty-eight participants responded to the survey. A Chi squared test revealed that a statistically significant link (p = 0.003) between program Doctoral degree level and the program director or director’s proxies’ likelihood to know the benefits of music as a CAM. Additionally, the most common response to barriers for music as a CAM addition to curriculum was lack of time and lack of CAM on boards. Conclusions: The project found that there are CRNA programs that know the benefits of and teach music as a CAM as a part of their curriculum. The project also showed there is a need to expand music as a CAM education to increase both student and current provider awareness of benefits as well as utilization