Medicine's melodies: on the costs and benefits of music, soundscapes, and noise in healthcare settings

A large and growing body of empirical research now demonstrates the positive impact that music and other auditory stimuli, such as nature soundscapes, can have across the entire spectrum of the healthcare ecosystem: From the point of entry and onward to the operating room, in the perioperative environment, patient wards, and medical waiting rooms, music affects those who hear it: Patients, their families, surgeons, caregivers, and hospital staff alike. In the age of the “experience economy,” where patients are considered as both guests and consumers, private healthcare is increasingly starting to focus on customer satisfaction, and its impact on both financial performance and (not unrelated) health outcomes. In this review, we summarize the latest evidence concerning the impact of music, soundscapes, and noise, on medical outcomes and healthcare provision. We highlight the importance of the auditory (and, ultimately, the multisensory) environment on health and well-being. We also look at the role that music plays in improving patient satisfaction and potentially reducing the costs associated with healthcare provision