Does Listening to Music During Office-Based Flexible Cystoscopy Decrease Anxiety in Patients: A Prospective...

Area of Science:

• Urology
• Pain Management
• Psychological Interventions

Background:

• Flexible cystoscopy is an invasive urological procedure often associated with patient anxiety and pain.
• Managing patient discomfort during flexible cystoscopy is crucial for improving patient experience and adherence to care.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of music intervention in alleviating anxiety and pain during office-based flexible cystoscopy.
• To assess the impact of music on patient-reported outcomes using the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) and Visual Analog Scale (VAS).

Main Methods:

• A prospective, randomized study involving 137 North American veteran patients undergoing flexible cystoscopy.
• Patients were randomized into two groups: one listening to classical music and a control group without music.
• Anxiety and pain levels were measured using STAI and VAS scores post-procedure.

Main Results:

• The music group exhibited statistically significant lower postprocedural anxiety scores (median 30 vs. 35, P=0.0017) compared to the nonmusic group.
• Music intervention led to a significant reduction in perceived pain (median 0 vs. 2, P<0.0001) during the procedure.
• A significant decrease in anxiety change scores (delta STAI) was observed in the music group (median 0 vs. 2, P<0.0001).

Conclusions:

• Listening to music is an effective strategy for reducing anxiety and pain associated with flexible cystoscopy.
• Music can be recommended as an adjunct therapy to improve patient comfort during flexible cystoscopy.
• This intervention shows promise for enhancing patient care in urological settings, particularly for veteran populations.