Effect of music on preoperative anxiety in men undergoing urogenital surgery

Abstract

Objective: The purpose of the current study was to investigate the effect of music therapy on preoperative anxiety levels in Turkish men undergoing urogenital surgery.

Design: The study employed a quasi‑experimental design. Patients were selected using randomized controlled sampling.

Setting: The study was conducted in a urology clinic in Aziziye Research Hospital, Süleyman Demirel Medical Centre, Atatürk University, Erzurum, a city in the east of Turkey.

Subjects: The study was conducted with a total of 64 patients; 32 in the experimental group; 32 in the control group; aged between 18 and 65; and able to speak, read and write Turkish.

Intervention: The control group received routine preoperative care while the experimental group listened to their choice of music for 30 minutes in their room while they awaited surgery.

Main outcome measures: Pre and post test anxiety was measured using the State Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) to assess anxiety before and after listening to the music preferred by the patient.

Results: Anxiety score averages between the groups following the music therapy were statistically significant (p<0.001); 33.68 (SD=8.03) for the experimental group and 44.43(SD=10.42) for the control group.

Conclusions: These findings support the use of music as an independent nursing intervention to manage preoperative anxiety in patients undergoing urogenital surgery. Listening to self‑selected music during the preoperative period can effectively reduce anxiety levels and should be a useful tool for preoperative nursing.