“Where’s the Music?” Using Music Therapy for Pain Management

Conclusion

Research supporting the use of music therapy to increase patient comfort is widely accepted and practiced.⁷ Music therapy is readily available, low risk, inexpensive, and does not require intense training by staff. It may reduce the need for moderate sedation and improve the overall patient experience. During the study, the MRVAMC nursing staff gained a greater appreciation of evidence-based practice; staff are more engaged in QI, based on their personal involvement in research.

Because 87% of the music therapy participants reported that music was helpful, the MRVAMC pain clinic plans to implement music therapy as a standard of care during RFL procedures and all procedure appointments. Music therapy may help reduce pain and anxiety during painful procedures. The goal is to continually increase patient satisfaction and overall procedure experience through integration of evidence-based practice.

Acknowledgments
The authors thank the study team who helped consent participants, perform the experiment, and gather and analyze data. They also acknowledge the pain clinic physicians, Dr. Egle Bavry and Dr. Heidi Goldstein, for their support throughout the study. Special thanks goes to Daniel Prince for his technical support.