Effect of lullaby and classical music on physiologic stability of hospitalized preterm infants: a randomized trial.
BACKGROUND
Music is considered a subset of developmental supportive care. It may act as a suitable auditory stimulant in preterm infants. Also, it may reduce stress responses in autonomic, motor and state systems.


OBJECTIVE
To assess and compare the influence of lullaby and classical music on physiologic parameters.


METHODS
This is a randomized clinical trial with cross-over design. A total of 25 stable preterm infants with birth weight of 1000-2500 grams were studied for six consecutive days. Each infant was exposed to three phases: lullaby music, classical music, and no music (control) for two days each. The sequence of these phases was assigned randomly to each subject. Babies were continuously monitored for heart rate, respiratory rate, and oxygen saturation and changes between phases were analyzed.


RESULTS
Lullaby reduced heart rate (p < 0.001) and respiratory rate (p = 0.004). These effects extended in the period after the exposure (p < .001 and p = 0.001, respectively). Classical music reduced heart rate (p = 0.018). The effects of classical music disappeared once the music stopped. Oxygen saturation did not change during intervention.


CONCLUSIONS
Music can affect vital signs of preterm infants; this effect can possibly be related to the reduction of stress during hospitalization. The implications of these findings on clinical and developmental outcomes need further study.
Vali-e-asr Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Science, Tehran, Iran.
E
E
Amini
Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, Tehran University of Medical Science, Tehran, Iran.
P
P
Rafiei
Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, Tehran University of Medical Science, Tehran, Iran.
K
K
Zarei
Hajar Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, Shahr-e-kord University of Medical Science, Shahr-e-kord, Iran.
M
M
Gohari
Department of Statistics & Mathematics, Hospital Management Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Science, Tehran, Iran.
M
M
Hamidi
D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007230:Infant, Low Birth Weight / Q000502:physiology*; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature / Q000502:physiology*; D015931:Intensive Care, Neonatal / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008991:Monitoring, Physiologic; D009147:Music Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D010100:Oxygen / Q000097:blood; D056152:Respiratory Rate / Q000502:physiology; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D010100:Oxygen
Lullaby; classical music; physiologic parameter; preterm infant