The Impact of Listening to Music During MRI-Fusion Prostate Biopsy Procedures on Pain and Anxiety Levels: A...

Combined biopsy (CBx) is a combination of multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (MpMRI)-targeted prostate biopsy (FBx) and systematic biopsy (SBx). CBx offers highly accurate diagnostic rates, but the increased number of cores taken and the longer procedure time may pose challenges in tolerability compared to traditional biopsies in terms of pain and anxiety. This situation leads to the need to evaluate pain and anxiety.

In a tertiary hospital in Turkey, 149 patients with suspicious lesions (PI-RADS ≥ 3 on MpMRI) who underwent transrectal CBx were included between May 2023 and August 2023. Following FBx, patients underwent a 12-core systematic biopsy. During CBx, 78 patients listened to classical music, while 71 patients used noise-canceling headphones without music. Ten minutes after the procedure, patients completed the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (s-STAI, t-STAI) questionnaires to measure pain and anxiety. s-STAI determines how anxious a person feels at a specific moment. t-STAI indicates the general level of anxiety a person experiences independently of their current situation.

Median VAS score was 3.6 (3.0 - 4.3) in the music group and 5.4 (4.4 - 6.9) in the control group (p < 0.001). The median s-STAI score was 38 (34 - 44) in the music group and 44 (39 - 48) in the control group (p < 0.001). For t-STAI scores, no significant difference between groups was observed.  Conclusion: Incorporating music during CBx, alongside traditional pain management, effectively reduces pain and anxiety levels. Its cost-effectiveness, accessibility, and non-invasive nature make routine use of music during CBx procedures advantageous for pain palliation.