The Effect of Music Intervention on CAM Scores of Hospitalized Older Adults Experiencing Delirium

Older adults are vulnerable to developing while hospitalized is delirium. Research has shown that non-pharmacological interventions are effective in managing delirium and should be the first-line of treatment; however despite this, nurses fmd it difficult to address delirium. The purpose of this research study is to examine the effectiveness of classical music intervention in hospitalized older adults experiencing delirium by evaluating their Confusion Assessment Method (CAM) scores. A pre-and-post study design to compare the CAM scores of patients before and after music intervention was implemented. Study participants were patients 65 years and older identified to be experiencing delirium by a CAM score of greater than 6 admitted to a medical unit of a community hospital. In a sample of 8 study participants, the paired t- test revealed the post-CAM score after music was played showed an average of0.3 points lower than the pre-CAM (p = .39). Though the results of the study did not show a statistically significant difference, the study\u27s participants\u27 responses suggest that music, as an adjunct intervention, could aid in the management of delirium. These fmdings indicate the need to for further research in examining the relationship between music and delirium