Listening to music decreases need for sedative medication during colonoscopy: a randomized, controlled trial.
BACKGROUND
Music played during endoscopic procedures may alleviate anxiety and improve patient acceptance of the procedure. A prospective randomized, controlled trial was undertaken to determine whether music decreases the requirement for midazolam during colonoscopy and makes the procedure more comfortable and acceptable.


METHODS
Patients undergoing elective colonoscopy between October 2003 and February 2004 were randomized to either not listen to music (Group 1; n=40) or listen to music of their choice (Group 2; n=38) during the procedure. All patients received intravenous midazolam on demand in aliquots of 2 mg each. The dose of midazolam, duration of procedure, recovery time, pain and discomfort scores and willingness to undergo a repeat procedure using the same sedation protocol were compared.


RESULTS
Patients in Group 2 received significantly less midazolam than those in Group 1 (p=0.007). The pain score was similar in the two groups, whereas discomfort score was lower in Group 2 (p=0.001). Patients in the two groups were equally likely to be willing for a repeat procedure.


CONCLUSIONS
Listening to music during colonoscopy helps reduce the dose of sedative medications and decreases discomfort experienced during the procedure.
Department of Gastroenterology, Medical College Hospital, Kozhikode 673 008, Kerala.
R
R
Harikumar
Mehroof
M
Raj
Antony
A
Paul
K
K
Harish
Sunil K
SK
Kumar
K
K
Sandesh
Syed
S
Asharaf
Varghese
V
Thomas
D000328:Adult; D003113:Colonoscopy; D016292:Procedural Sedation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008297:Male; D008874:Midazolam / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008875:Middle Aged; D009146:Music; D010147:Pain Measurement; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012064:Relaxation Therapy; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric
D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives; D008874:Midazolam