Effects of music therapy on intravitreal injections: a randomised clinical trial

Procedures are frequently performed under regional or local anaesthesia, where patients maintain a level of consciousness. This has been associated with heightened pre- and intraprocedural anxiety levels, which may increase the risk of emotional distress and worsen patient outcomes. Music therapy has been proposed as an effective non-pharmacological intervention to reduce anxiety levels. This is a pilot study aimed at evaluating the effect of music therapy on anxiety and perceived pain during intravitreal injections (IVI) in the Singaporean context.

Study participants were randomised into groups with and without music therapy. Anxiety levels were assessed using the Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (state subscale) before and after IVI. The patients' perceptions of pain and discomfort were rated on a visual analogue scale.

Fifty and 51 patients were assigned to the music therapy and control groups, respectively. After IVI, anxiety levels were lower in the music therapy group than the control group (-5.94 ± 10.81 vs. -5.02 ± 7.59; P = 0.62), although the difference was not statistically significant. The levels of pain and discomfort reported by patients in both groups were comparable.

In the setting of IVIs, anxiety levels among patients receiving music therapy were reduced compared to those who had no music therapy, although the difference in anxiety levels was not statistically significant. Future studies should evaluate the impact of patient autonomy over the choice of music on the effectiveness of music therapy.