title: The impact of music on the PACU patient's perception of discomfort.
abstract: Pain is a normal finding in the postoperative patient, and noise can accentuate one's perception of discomfort. In this study, physiological measurements, intravenous (IV) opioid administration, length of stay, and satisfaction for postoperative patients who listened to music were compared with patients not provided music during their PACU stay. Of the 213 subjects enrolled, 163 experienced postoperative pain. The mean change in experimental subjects' respiratory rate was significantly lower than the controls. Decreases in heart rate and blood pressure from admission to discharge were similar between the two groups. On average, peripheral oxygen saturation and opioid pain control were not significantly different between control and experimental subjects. Subjects provided with music reported acceptable noise levels and increased satisfaction with their PACU experience. Music intervention is therefore a viable, minimal cost, and alternative therapy that PACU nurses can use to assist patients coping with postoperative pain.
authors.affiliation: Catawba Valley Medical Center PACU, Hickory, NC 28602, USA. beaster@catawbavalleymc.org
authors.forename: Betty
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Easter
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: DeBoer
authors.forename: Gail
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Settlemyre
authors.forename: Carolyn
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Starnes
authors.forename: Vickie
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Marlowe
authors.forename: Rebecca Creech
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Tart
mesh_terms: D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001794:Blood Pressure; D006339:Heart Rate; D006801:Humans; D009146:Music; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology*; D010361:Patients / Q000523:psychology*; D016528:Postanesthesia Nursing
chemical_list: D000701:Analgesics, Opioid