EFFECT OF MUSIC THERAPY IN PATIENTS UNDERGOING CAESAREAN DELIVERY UNDER SPINAL ANAESTHESIA

Background: Increased anxiety in patients undergoing caesarean delivery has a negative impact on fetus and mother. Music therapy can have beneficial effects. The aim of our study was to determine the effects of preoperative and intraoperative music therapy on anxiety, pain, patient satisfaction and postoperative nausea and vomiting in patients undergoing caesarean delivery under spinal anaesthesia. Methods: A prospective randomised study was conducted on 100 patients, 18–40 years of age, ASA Grade I–III posted for caesarean delivery under spinal anaesthesia. Patients were randomly divided into two groups (50 each). Group M patients listened to soothing meditative flute music, and Group C patients had no music but headphones until the end of the surgery. Observations were recorded and analysed statistically: mean blood pressure (MBP), heart rate (HR), visual analogue score (VAS) for pain, visual analogue score for anxiety (VASA), and patient satisfaction score (PSS). Results: Compared to Group C, HR and MBP in Group M started falling after 10 minutes of spinal anaesthesia, and the difference was significant (p<0.05). Compared to Group C, the median VASA-2 in Group M was significantly lower than the median VASA-1 (p<0.01) in Group M. Group M patients reported a significantly lower median VAS than Group C patients at 30 minutes (p<0.01) and at the 1st hour (p<0.01) postoperatively. PSS was significantly higher in Group M compared to Group C (p<0.01). Conclusion: Music therapy is a useful adjunct for patients undergoing caesarean delivery under spinal anaesthesia, leading to reduced pain, anxiety scores and improved patient satisfaction.