Effect of Classical Music on Physiological Characteristics and Observational and Behavioral Measures of Pain in Unconscious Patients Admitted to Intensive Care Units

Objective: Assessment and management of pain in patients under artificial respiration and hospitalized in Intensive Care Units (ICUs) are difficult, and is less considered by physicians and nurses. This study aims to determine the effect of classical music on physiological characteristics, and observational and behavioral measures of pain in unconscious patients admitted to ICUs. Methods: This is a quasi-experimental study conducted in 2019 on 30 unconscious patients admitted to ICU of Shohadaye Haft-e Tir Hospital in Tehran, Iran, who were selected using a convenience sampling method, and divided into two groups of intervention and control. After obtaining a written informed consent from patients to participate, they completed a demographic/physiological form, Critical Care Pain Observation Tool (COPT) and Behavioral Pain Scale (BPC). Collected data were analyzed in SPSS v.22 software by using descriptive and inferential statistics. Results:  The mean age of patients in the intervention and control groups was 40.33± 14.01 and 46±15.70 years, respectively. Comparison of physiological characteristics before and after the intervention showed no statistically significant difference in any groups except in Glasgow Coma Scale score (P <0.05). The mean pretest and posttest COPT scores in the intervention group were 3.73 ± 0.94 and 1.96 ±1.32, respectively, and their mean pretest and posttest BPC scores were 5.94 ±1.39 and 4.22 ±1.08, respectively. Comparing the mean COPT and BPC scores before and after music therapy showed a statistically significant difference in the intervention group (P<0.05). Conclusion: It seems that classical music can reduce observational and behavioral measures of pain in unconscious patients hospitalized in ICUs. More studies are recommended for examining the effect of classical music on physiological characteristics of these patients.