The effect of music on the pain of selected post-operative patients

The study investigated the effect of music (musical preferences of subjects) on the pain of selected post-operative patients during the first 48 hours. The subjects were 24 female gynaecologic and/or obstetric patients who made the control and experimental sample, paired accordingly by age, type of surgery, educational background and previous operative experience(s). The measurement of the experimental variable was done using an Overt Pain Reaction Rating Scale (OPRRS) devised by the writer. Analgesics received, arterial blood pressures, pulse rates, and respiratory rates were also used to test the hypothesis. Significant differences were found between the groups of post-operative patients in their musculo-skeletal, and verbal pain reactions during the first 58 hours at the 0.05 level. The blood pressures showed significance only at the 0.07 level. The pulse rate during the second 24-hour period was significant at the 0.01 level; however, no significance was shown during the first 24-hour period. The respiratory rate was insignificant during the first 48-hour post-operative period. The raw data on pain-relieving medications received by the sample indicated a difference, but this was not statistically significant. The conceptual framework of the study was based on the concept of distraction following the 'Gate Control Theory' of pain by Melzack & Wall (1965). The recommendation arrived at is to use music as a nursing measure for post-operative patients.