Publication:

Evaluation of music interventions for anxiety during dermatosurgery under local anesthesia

Background Music is a safe, non-invasive and affordable adjunct to office surgery with several studies based on the effect of music on anxiety levels in varying age groups proving beneficial. The main aim of the current study was to evaluate the effect of music intervention on the anxiety levels of patients going through dermato-surgery under local anesthesia.

Methods Participants (n=150) undergoing dermato-surgery were divided equally as control (no music intervention) and experimental group (music intervention). The demographic data, physiological parameters (blood pressure (BP), heart rate (HR) and respiratory rate (RR)) at varying time intervals (baseline, 10 minutes after the commencement of surgery and 20 minutes after the end of surgery) along with the psychological parameter (anxiety) were recorded.

Results Participants listened to the music of their interest during surgery. The anxiety levels decreased significantly within both the experimental and control groups at varying time intervals (p<0.0001). Within each group, BP, HR, and RR at all time intervals were statistically significant (p<0.0001). On comparing the control and experimental groups, only systolic BP at all time intervals was statistically significant (p<0.05). A negative correlation was observed in RR at 10 minutes with respect to interest in music and social avoidance; at 20 minutes only with interest in music (p<0.05).

Conclusions The anxiety level of patients going through dermato-surgery under local anesthesia was reduced due to music intervention at varying time intervals.