Alternative Therapies In Health And Medicine

esults cannot necessarily be generalized to other populations.
An understanding of the role of treatment modalities, such as
music and nature sounds, in managing anxiety and pain is needed to
help achieve a balance between pain medications and the assorted side
effects. 11,18 Patients are increasingly seeking integrative therapies, and
numerous facilities are incorporating them into the care provided. One
study suggested that approximately 50% of patients have incorporated
the use of integrative therapies for pain management because conventional
pain medications were not effective in relieving pain. 25
Music is considered a simple, cost-effective way to improve a
person’s mood and decrease anxiety and pain associated with surgery
or other medical procedures. 21,26 Hospitalization and illness are stressful
and are often associated with fear of pain. Stress and pain during
hospitalization may interfere with sleep quality, appetite, digestion,
behavior, and wound healing, resulting in longer hospital stays. 6,9,27
Future studies would be beneficial to confirm the results of the
present study and to explore the effect of natural sounds in producing
outcomes. The frequency and timing of music listening needs to be
explored, especially in a busy hospital with many possible interruptions.
Although this music study had structured music times during
the day, patients may prefer music at other times during the day.
Another consideration is the preoperative and intraoperative role of
ambient music. Patient preferences also may be a key component of
the effectiveness of such therapies and could be addressed in future
studies that offered a wider range of music and nature sounds.
In conclusion, this study showed that recorded music and
nature sounds can be integrated into the postoperative care of cardiovascular
surgery patients. For cardiovascular surgery patients, ambient
music may provide an additional means for addressing common
symptoms of pain and anxiety while providing a means of relaxation.
The use of any complementary modalities that can provide some
symptomatic relief and increase patient satisfaction is a welcome
addition to patient care and provides patients with options to consider
to improve the hospital or surgical experience.
Acknowledgments
We gratefully acknowledge the participation of the Healing Enhancement team members in
assisting and supporting this study. The CDs used in this study were donated by Ambience
Medical. We also acknowledge the Saint Marys Hospital Auxiliary for its ongoing support in
providing the gift of music and other healing resources for our patients. Finally, this work was
further supported by a generous gift from Richard J. and Sharon M. Mrocek.
8. DeKeyser F. Psychoneuroimmunology in critically ill patients. AACN Clin Issues.
2003;14(1):25-32.
9. Kiecolt-Glaser JK, Marucha PT, Malarkey WB, Mercado AM, Glaser R. Slowing of
wound healing by psychological stress. Lancet. 1995;346(8984):1194-1196.
10. McCaffrey R, Frock TL, Garguilo H. Understanding chronic pain and the mind-body
connection. Holist Nurs Pract. 2003;17(6):281-287.
11. Good M. Effects of relaxation and music on postoperative pain: a review. J Adv Nurs.
1996;24(5):905-914.
12. No authors listed. Chapter 37: pain management. Subchapter 37.4: non-pharmacologic
interventions for postoperative plan. December 2005. In: Making Healthcare Safer: A
Critical Analysis of Patient Safety Practices. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.
http://www.ahrq.gov/clinic/ptsafety/chap37b.htm#37.4. Accessed March 8, 2010.
13. Bradt J, Dileo C. Music for stress and anxiety reduction in coronary heart disease
patients. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2009 Apr 15;(2):CD006577.
14. Carr D, Jacox A. Acute pain management: operative or medical procedures and trauma:
clinical practice guideline. March 2006. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.
http://www.ahrq.gov/clinic/medtep/acute.htm. Accessed March 8, 2010.
15. Young-Mason J. Music therapy: a healing art. Clin Nurse Spec. 2002;16(3):153-154.
16. Whipple B, Glynn NJ. Quantification of the effects of listening to music as a noninvasive
method of pain control. Sch Inq Nurs Pract. 1992;6(1):43-58.
17. Knight WE, Rickard NS. Relaxing music prevents stress-induced increases in subjective
anxiety, systolic blood pressure, and heart rate in healthy males and females. J Music
Ther. 2001;38(4):254-272.
18. Hanser SB, Mandel SE. The effects of music therapy in cardiac healthcare. Cardiol Rev.
2005;13(1):18-23.
19. Heiser RM, Chiles K, Fudge M, Gray SE. The use of music during the immediate postoperative
recovery period. AORN J. 1997;65(4):777-778, 781-785.
20. Ambient Therapy [brochure]. Omaha, NE: Ambience Medical; 2004.
21. Watkins GR. Music therapy: proposed physiological mechanisms and clinical implications.
Clin Nurse Spec. 1997;11(2):43-50.
22. Watt-Watson J, Stevens B. Managing pain after coronary artery bypass surgery. J
Cardiovasc Nurs. 1998;12(3):39-51.
23. Watt-Wilson JH, Donovan MI. Pain Management: Nursing Perspective. St Louis, MO:
Mosby Year Book; 1992.
24. Sendelbach SE, Halm MA, Doran KA, Miller EH, Gaillard P. Effects of music therapy
on physiological and psychological outcomes for patients undergoing cardiac surgery. J
Cardiovasc Nurs. 2006;21(3):194-200.
25. Barnes PM, Powell-Griner E, McFann K, Nahin RL. Complementary and alternative
medicine use among adults: United States, 2002. Adv Data. 2004 May 27;(343):1-19.
26. McCaffery M. Nursing approaches to nonpharmacological pain control. Int J Nurs Stud.
1990;27(1):1-5.
27. McRee LD, Noble S, Pasvogel A. Using massage and music therapy to improve postoperative
outcomes. AORN J. 2003;78(3):433-442, 445-447.
wants to hear from
References
1. No authors listed. Cardiac procedures and surgeries. American Heart Association. http://
americanheart.org/presenter.jhtmlidentifier=4674. Accessed November 9, 2010.
2. Barnason S, Zimmerman L, Nieveen J. The effects of music interventions on anxiety in
the patient after coronary artery bypass grafting. Heart Lung. 1995;24(2):124-132.
3. Puntillo K, Weiss SJ. Pain: its mediators and associated morbidity in critically ill cardiovascular
surgical patients. Nurs Res. 1994;43(1):31-36.
4. Vingerhoets G. Perioperative anxiety and depression in open-heart surgery.
Psychosomatics. 1998;39(1):30-37.
5. Bergmann P, Huber S, Machler H, et al. Perioperative course of stress in patients confronting
cardiac surgery. Internet J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 2000;3(2). www.ispub.com/
journal/the_internet_journal_of_thoracic_and_cardiovascular_surgery/volume_3_
number_2_2/article/perioperative_course_of_stress_in_patients_confronting_cardiac_surgery_1.html.
Accessed March 8, 2010.
6. Kiecolt-Glaser JK, Page GG, Marucha PT, MacCallum RC, Glaser R. Psychological influences
on surgical recovery. Perspectives from psychoneuroimmunology. Am Psychol.
1998;53(11):1209-1218.
7. Lusk B, Lash AA. The stress response, psychoneuroimmunology, and stress among ICU
patients. Dimens Crit Care Nurs. 2005;24(1):25-31.
Send your comments, questions, or ideas to:
ATHM@innovisionhm.com
Or by post to:
ATHM, Attn: Editor
1408 Northland Dr #306, Mendota Heights, MN 55120.
Nature Sounds and Music After Cardiac Surgery
ALTERNATIVE THERAPIES, jul/aug 2011, VOL. 17, NO. 4 23