Perioperative music or headsets to decrease anxiety

The ambient noise of monitors, other patients, and staff in the postanesthesia care unit/operating room may elevate levels of anxiety. The purpose of our study was to determine the effect of music versus noise-blocking headphones on the level of anxiety in women undergoing gynecologic same-day surgery. Institutional Review Board approval was obtained. The women were approached for consent and randomized to usual care, music with headphones, or headphones only. Preoperative and postoperative anxiety was rated on a scale of 0 to 10. Music/headphones were continued throughout surgery and removed when Aldrete level of consciousness equaled 2. The 119 women had a mean age of 38.8 (standard deviation=2.2) years. Of interest, 51 (45%) reported very low preoperative anxiety (0-3/10) and were excluded. All groups experienced a drop in anxiety from pre- to postoperative status, but the usual care group had the least improvement (P<.05). The music group experienced the lowest postoperative anxiety scores; the headphone group had a greater change overall. Music is a relatively inexpensive intervention, easy to administer, and noninvasive.