Incorporating music into the surgical environment

Area of Science:

• Nursing
• Anesthesiology
• Medical Humanities

Background:

• Patient comfort is a primary nursing responsibility.
• Conscious sedation and local anesthesia are increasingly used in outpatient plastic surgery.
• Nonchemical adjuncts are sought for patient anxiolysis, sedation, and analgesia.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide nurses with an overview of music as a nonchemical adjunct for patient comfort.
• To explore the use of music in operative settings.
• To guide nurses in implementing music interventions.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of music's historical use in medicine.
• Examination of relevant research on music's effects.
• Development of guidelines for music application in surgery.

Main Results:

• Music has a historical precedent as a therapeutic tool.
• Research indicates music can aid in anxiolysis, sedation, and analgesia.
• Guidelines are proposed for integrating music into surgical care.

Conclusions:

• Music is a viable nonchemical adjunct for enhancing patient comfort during procedures.
• Nurses can effectively utilize music to improve the surgical experience.
• Further exploration of music interventions in healthcare is warranted.