title: Effects of different musical stimuli in vital signs and facial expressions in patients with cerebral damage: a pilot study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Along history, music has been used in a variety of ways for therapeutic purposes and has long been recognized for its physiological and psychological effects. Music listening can be an effective nursing intervention, to enhance relaxation, provide distraction, and reduce pain.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aims of this study were to identify changes produced by different musical stimuli in blood pressure (BP), heart rate (HR), respiratory rate (RR), and oxygen saturations (SpO2) and to verify the influence of music listening on patients' facial expressions with severe cerebral damage.
  
  
  METHODS
  A quasiexperimental study was performed in 26 patients with severe cerebral damage, divided into control and case groups. Patients belonging to the case group were exposed to musical stimuli, radio, classical relaxing music (CRM), and relaxing music with nature sounds (RMNS). Patients were evaluated by measuring vital signs before and after exposure to each musical stimulus, as were the patients within the control group. Patients in the control group were exempt from any musical stimulus. Facial expressions were observed in each patient within the case group during the intervention.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results show that radio produced a slight increase in systolic BP, HR, RR, and SpO2. The CRM induced a decrease of RR and an increase of SpO2 and also produced alterations of the facial expression. When RMNS was played, a decrease was displayed in BP, HR, and RR and an increase was displayed in SpO2. Alterations in facial expression were displayed in each patient.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of the study suggest that the application of musical stimuli such as CRM and RMNS can be used to provide a state of relaxation in patients with severe cerebral damage.
authors.affiliation: Question or comments about this article may be directed to Ana S. F. Ribeiro, SF PhD, at asfribeiro@gmail.com. She is a Researcher in the Nursing Department of Fundación Instituto San José, Orden Hospitalaria de los Hermanos de San Juan de Dios, Madrid, Spain. Antonio Ramos, MSN, is a Nurse Supervisor at The Reversible Brain Injury Unit of Fundación Instituto San José, Orden Hospitalaria de los Hermanos de San Juan de Dios, Departamento de Enfermería, Madrid, Spain. Emilia Bermejo, BSN, is a Nurse Supervisor at The Reversible Brain Injury Unit of Fundación Instituto San José, Orden Hospitalaria de los Hermanos de San Juan de Dios, Departamento de Enfermería, Madrid, Spain. Mónica Casero, BSN, is a Nurse at The Reversible Brain Injury Unit of Fundación Instituto San José, Orden Hospitalaria de los Hermanos de San Juan de Dios, Departamento de Enfermería, Madrid, Spain. José Manuel Corrales, MSN, is a Nurse at The Reversible Brain Injury Unit of Fundación Instituto San José, Orden Hospitalaria de los Hermanos de San Juan de Dios, Departamento de Enfermería, Madrid, Spain. Sarah Grantham, BSN, is a Nurse at The Reversible Brain Injury Unit of Fundación Instituto San José, Orden Hospitalaria de los Hermanos de San Juan de Dios, Departamento de Enfermería, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Ana Sofia Fernandes
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Ribeiro
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ramos
authors.forename: Emilia
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bermejo
authors.forename: Mónica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Casero
authors.forename: José Manuel
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Corrales
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Grantham
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000451:nursing / Q000534:rehabilitation; D003244:Consciousness Disorders / Q000451:nursing* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D005149:Facial Expression; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009146:Music; D009147:Music Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D018458:Persistent Vegetative State / Q000451:nursing / Q000534:rehabilitation; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011845:Radio; D012064:Relaxation Therapy / Q000379:methods; D055986:Vital Signs