Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 4, 2026

Severe Burn Injury in a Swine Model for Clinical Dressing Assessment
Published on: November 6, 2018
Effect of Music Therapy on Pain Perception, Anxiety, and Opioid Use During Dressing Change Among Patients With Burns
Latika Rohilla1, Meenakshi Agnihotri2, Sukhpal Kaur Trehan3
1Public Health Nursing Officer, National Institute of Nursing Education, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India.
The effectiveness of music therapy for relieving pain and anxiety during burn dressing changes has not been reported from India.
The effectiveness of music therapy for relieving pain and anxiety during burn dressing changes has not been reported from India.
Purpose:
This study was conducted to assess the effect of music therapy on pain, anxiety, opioid use, and hemodynamic variables during burn dressing change.
Methods:
Patients in a tertiary care burn unit who were >10 years old, conscious, able to respond, and oriented to time, place, and person participated in a 2-month, quasi-experimental, cross-over pilot study. Each served as his/her own control. Dressings were changed every other day alternating between the control (standard pain management) and experimental (control plus patient-selected music) intervention. Pain was assessed using a numerical rating scale, anxiety was scored using the State Trait Anxiety Test (higher scores indicated more pain and anxiety), and hemodynamic parameters and analgesics were recorded. Wilcoxon Test and chi-squared tests were utilized for statistical analysis.
Results:
Median pain scores (5, interquartile range [IQR] IQR: 3-7; and 6, IQR: 5-8) and median anxiety scores (12, IQR: 8-17; and 14, IQR: 10-19) were significantly lower during the experimental than during the standard dressing change, respectively (P <.001), and opioids were used significantly less frequently during the experimental change (P = .002).
Conclusion:
Music therapy helps reduce anxiety, pain, and opioid use during burn dressing change.
Related Concept Videos
Opioid Analgesics: Synthetic and Semisynthetic Opioids
Bioequivalence Experimental Study Designs: Repeated Measures, Cross-Over, Carry-Over, and Latin Square Designs
Global Climate Change
Burn Injuries
The damage results in the death of skin cells, which can lead to a massive loss of fluid. Dehydration, electrolyte imbalance, and renal and circulatory failure follow, which can be fatal. Burn patients are treated with intravenous fluids to offset...
Opioid Receptors: Overview
Pilot and Numeric Relaying

