Influence of Music Therapy in Post-Operative Pain Management

In Finland, there are many conventional methods of pain management. However, alternative options are easily undernoted or devalued. Music therapy has been relevant in many countries and has shown remarkable capabilities. The aim of this thesis is to find out if listening to music, and music therapy in general, has effects on pain management after a surgery. When combined with pharmacological pain management, the writers seek to find out exactly what effects, if any, music therapy has on the patient’s level of pain, therefore allowing nurses to have more possibilities in treating post-operative pain. The method used, was a literature review. Data was searched and acquired from different sources and databases such as Cinahl. The data obtained was then broken down to form different categories and sub-categories which were then used to interpret the material. Research of the effects that music therapy has on post-operative pain are still being discovered every day. It is known this far, however, that music therapy in conjunction with pharmacological intervention can lead to a decrease in blood pressure, decrease in levels of anxiety as well as a decrease in levels of discomfort. Music therapy is cost efficient, easy to maintain and easily accessible. When combined with pharmacological pain management, it has shown to relieve anxiety with patients after operations, and in some cases have positive effect on patients’ pain levels and vital functions