Is a Musical Intervention Effective In the Reduction of Needle Related Procedural Pain in Children?

OBJECTIVE:Trypanophobia, or the fear of needles and needle pain is a very common occurrence in children, one that can have significant impacts into adulthood and on an individual’s lifelong healthcare. The objective of this systematic review is to determine whether or not a musical intervention is effective in the reduction of needle-related procedural pain in children. The author searched OVID Medline and Cochrane databases for peer-reviewed articles and systematic reviews addressing the topic, published in English after 1996. Three randomized controlled trials were selected on the basis of their being POEM’s and not included in previous systematic reviews, the results of which were used to determine the effects of a musical intervention on childrens’ pain, anxiety, and several physiologic markers during needle-related procedures. Each of these three trials measured responses to the musical interventions using visual analog or FACES scales, and results were statistically analyzed, having varying levels of significance in the reduction of pain and distress of the children. Review of these results indicates that when available, a musical intervention is effective in the reduction of needle-related procedural pain in children undergoing medical procedures