A Randomized Feasibility Study on the Effects of Music Therapy in the Form of Patient-preferred Live Music on Mood and Pain in Patients on a Cardiovascular Unit

Background: Cardiovascular Disease (CVD) leads to over four million hospitalizations in the USA annually. Clinicians have used music listening and music therapy in hospital settings to improve patients’ physical and affective domains. However, there is scant research on the use of music therapy with cardiovascular inpatients. Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine whether music therapy in the form of patient-preferred live music (PPLM) can improve mood and pain in patients on a cardiovascular unit. Methods: Participants (N = 36) were adult in-patients on a cardiovascular unit and were randomly assigned to an experimental (PPLM) or a control condition. The researchers used an experimental pre- and posttest, single-session, waitlist control design and measured mood with the Quick Mood Scale and pain with a 10-point Likert scale. Results: There were significant between-group differences in posttest measures of relaxation/anxiety, cheerfulness/depression and pain with experimental participants having more favorable posttest scores than control participants. Conclusions: Music therapy in the form of single-session PPLM may be an effective intervention for improving mood and pain in patients on a cardiovascular unit. Implications, limitations and recommendations for future research are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2018 APA, all rights reserved