Clinical trial: music reduces anxiety levels in patients attending for endoscopy.
BACKGROUND
Patients attending for endoscopy are generally anxious and worried.


OBJECTIVE
To examine whether music reduced anxiety levels in patients attending for endoscopic procedures.


METHODS
Prospective randomized controlled trial of 180 patients (M:F 81:99). The effect of age (< or = or >51 years) and procedure (gastroscopy or flexible sigmoidoscopy/colonoscopy) on anxiety levels (state-trait anxiety inventory) on arrival in the unit and immediately before the endoscopy procedure, after listening to music or no music (control group) for the same period.


RESULTS
At baseline, anxiety levels were not influenced by age (< or =51 years, n = 56:42.21 +/- 9.18; >51 years, n = 124:39.99 +/- 10.13 (P = 0.15) or procedure: gastroscopy, n = 87:39.43 +/- 9.9, flexible sigmoidoscopy/colonoscopy: n = 93:41.86 +/- 9.75 (P = 0.98). No difference was found in anxiety scores in the control group (n = 88) at baseline and immediately pre-endoscopy (P = 0.243), but music led to a significant reduction in anxiety scores (n = 92), which was maintained for all age groups irrespective of procedure (all P < 0.0001).


CONCLUSIONS
Anxiety levels in patients attending for endoscopy were not influenced by age or procedure, but were significantly reduced by listening to music compared to controls. The availability of music within the endoscopy unit is a simple strategy that will improve the well-being of patients.
El-Hassan
H
H
Endoscopy Unit, Kent & Canterbury Hospital, EKH NHS Trust, Canterbury, UK.
McKeown
K
K
Muller
A F
AF
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001007:Anxiety / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D003113:Colonoscopy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D005773:Gastroscopy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009147:Music Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome