Interventions using unassisted music with guided imagery before, during and after surgery

Tusek, Church, Strong, Grass & Fazio (1997) studied patients scheduled for colorectal surgery and used music listening with guided imagery before, during and after surgery to determine its effectiveness in reducing patients’ anxiety levels. Subjects in the experimental group listened to guided imagery tapes for three consecutive days prior to surgery. They also listened to music-only tapes during induction of anesthesia before surgery, during surgery and again after surgery in the recovery room. In addition, they listened to guided imagery tapes each day for six days after surgery. Before surgery, anxiety increased in the control group but decreased in the guided imagery group (P<.001). Other findings showed that patients receiving music listening and guided imagery required less pain medication, had a shorter hospital stay, felt less anxious, and rated their level of pain as considerably lower than did patients not receiving these interventions. Researchers concluded that music with guided imagery significantly reduced postoperative anxiety, pain, and narcotic requirements and increased patient satisfaction.

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Contents: The effect of music interventions in the surgical setting on patients' level of anxiety

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This page was last updated December 30, 2004