1. By Frances Venuti

3. * Evidence Based Practice (EBP) is defined as “the thoughtful integration of the best available evidence, coupled with clinical expertise” (Drisko, 2010, p 1). In other words, health care professionals are able to find the most relevant information on a certain task or intervention that has been proven effective. In the past, different trial-&-error interventions were implemented in a certain situation and then evaluated. Now, other health care professionals can integrate their findings in their own care based off of the results of those previous interventions and whether or not they were effective. * There has been several studies done to prove music therapy effective as an alternative intervention.

4. * Many people use music therapy without even realizing it. How many people have ever turned on their favorite song when they are feeling stressed, angry, or sad? * Music therapy is a simple intervention that could make a huge difference in a patient’s care. Music therapy can be beneficial to various populations including the young, the middle-aged, and the elderly. * “Music is widely used to enhance well-being, reduce stress, and distract patients from unpleasant symptoms” (Kemper & Danhauer, 2005, p. 283). * It is a unique way to provide emotional and spiritual support, pain management, and stress and anxiety reduction for patients. * Mrazova & Celec (2010) feel that “music influences both psychological and physiological parameters, and many people, especially children, are responsive to this form of therapy” (p. 1091).

5. * Pre-Op * Post-Op * During Labor * Postpartum * Chemotherapy * Radiation * Physical Therapy * At Bedtime * Before/during procedures (CT scan, MRI, Dialysis)

6. * Labbe, et al. (2007) conducted a study consisting of 56 college students, 15 males and 41 females. They found that… * “Listening to classical or self-selected relaxing music significantly reduces negative emotional states and physiological arousal compared to listening to heavy metal music or sitting in silence” (p. 165). * Self-selected relaxing music can be anything and varies depending on the person. For example, while one person may feel that soft rock is relaxing, another person may disagree and only find country music relaxing. * Although there are many individual and cultural variations in types of music preferred, certain kinds of music appear to have consistent physiologic effects. * Kemper & C. Danhauer (2005) found that “classical music decreases tension but has little effect on other feelings, whereas new age music causes significant increases in relaxation and reductions in hostility and tension. After listening to designer music, subjects reported more relaxation and mental clarity and decreased hostility, sadness, fatigue, and tension” (pp. 283-284).

7. * Music therapy is often used as a distraction method, usually related to stressful events. * Example: A child is having an MRI done and is scared to go under such a big machine. Playing music that appeals to this child may help him/her relax and stay still so that the imaging can take place. * By focusing on the music, a person is less focused on the stressor in front of them, whether it be a procedure, a test, or pain.

8. * Han et al. (2010) conducted a randomized controlled trial with 127 patients on mechanical ventilation. They found… * “A significant reduction in anxiety and the physiological stress response (increased heart rate, blood pressure, and respiratory rate) in the music listening group” (p. 982). * In a study done on preoperative anxiety in men undergoing prostate surgery, “participants who listened to music had significantly reduced blood pressure and anxiety than those who didn’t.” In addition, “patients about to undergo surgery with spinal anesthesia who listened to music required less sedation to achieve a similar degree of relaxation when compared with a control group (Kemper & Danhauer, 2005, p. 284).

9. * “Sedative music has been proved effective in decreasing sympathetic nervous system activity (fight or flight response) and reducing situational anxiety associated with surgery” (Lucas, 2004, p. 11). * In many clinical settings, including intensive care units (ICU), “music has been shown to reduce patients' anxiety and depression” (Kemper & Danhauer, 2005, p. 284). * In a randomized control trial, 198 patients who underwent procedures (cystoscopy, cauterization, endoscopy) were divided into two groups. Kemper & Danhauer (2005) found that “those who listened to music while awaiting the procedure reported lower anxiety than the control group” (p. 284).

10. * Music is one of the most commonly used self-help strategies to promote sleep. It is a safe and cheap intervention which may be useful in treating sleep disorders in various populations. * The results of the review done by De Niet et al. (2009) was based on five random control trial studies and showed that “music-assisted relaxation is an effective aid for improving sleep quality in patients with various conditions” (p. 1361). * In an uncontrolled trial, music was used to “alleviate insomnia in 52 elderly women with sleep disorders. The music, which was selected by the subjects themselves, was reported to significantly decrease sleep latency and decrease nighttime awakenings” (Cherniack, 2005, p. 23).

11. * Music has proven effective in reducing pain associated with a variety of procedures, including, “debridement, laceration repair, lumbar punctures, insertion of intravenous lines, immunizations, and dental procedures” (Kemper & Danhauer, 2005, p. 285). * People who listen to music have lower pain levels, less physician-administered sedation, and shorter examination time. “Music also decrease patients' perceptions of and responses to pain during labor” (Kemper & Danhauer, 2005, p. 285). * The Cleveland Clinic Foundation studied music therapy using a randomized trial involving 130 patients. They found that... * The experimental group, who had received routine perioperative care as well as listened to music before, during, and after surgery “had significantly lower total analgesic requirements than the control group and had considerably less pain and anxiety on all postoperative days” (Lally, 2007, p. 10). * A study done on 97 individuals undergoing same day surgery at a large Veterans Administration hospital concluded that… “The experimental group, who listened to music in the PACU, showed a significant reduction in pain from PACU admission to discharge” (Lucas, 2004, p. 9).

12. * By reducing anxiety and stress levels and by promoting sleep and pain control, music therapy overall enhances the healing process. * Factors like adequate sleep and stress control heavily effect a person’s health and how quickly that person is able to recuperate from being sick or injured. * Music therapy is an inexpensive intervention that can be implemented in various populations and to people with a variety of conditions.

13. * Cherniack, E. (2006). The use of alternative medicine for the treatment of insomnia in the elderly. Psychogeriatrics, 6(1), 21-30. * De Niet, G., Tiemens, B., Lendemeijer, B., & Hutschemaekers, G. (2009). Music-assistedrelaxation to improve sleep quality: meta-analysis. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 65(7), 1356-1364. * Drisko, J. (2010). Evidence Based Practice. Retrieved from: http://sophia.smith.edu * Han, L., Li, J., Sit, J. H., Chung, L., Jiao, Z. Y., & Ma, W. G. (2010). Effects of music intervention on physiological stress response and anxiety. 978-987 * Kemper, K. J., & Danhauer, C. (2005). Music as Therapy. Southern Medical Journal, 98(3), 282-288. Retrieved from EBSCOhost. * Labbé, E., Schmidt, N., Babin, J., & Pharr, M. (2007). Coping with Stress: The Effectiveness of Different Types of Music. Applied Psychophysiology. 163-168. * Lally, R. M. (2007). The Sounds of Healing. ONS Connect, 22(2), 8-12. Retrieved from EBSCOhost. * Lucas, L. K. (2004). Orthopedic Outpatients' Perception of Perioperative Music Listening as Therapy. Journal of Theory Construction & Testing, 8(1), 7-12. Retrieved from EBSCOhost. * Mrázová, M., & Celec, P. (2010). A Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials Using Music Therapy for Children. Journal of Alternative & Complementary Medicine, 16(10), 1089-1095.