Music Listening as a Postanesthesia Care Unit (PACU) Nursing Intervention for Laparoscopic Radical Prostatectomy Patients: A Randomized Comparative Clinical Trial

Purpose: Randomized comparative mixed method approach with qualitative inquiry study's aim sought to determine if there was a difference in pre/post-intervention State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) scores and postanesthesia pain scores between two music listening groups of laparoscopic radical prostatectomy patients. Design: Prospective randomized comparative mixed method approach with a qualitative inquiry. Methods: Sample size of 77 male participants assigned by a table of random numbers to Spotify patient-preferred music selection Group I (n = 37) or minimalist hypnotic music with guided relaxation breathing (MHMGRB) instructional narrative Group II (n = 40). Outcome measures used patients’ STAI questionnaire and reported PACU admission and discharge pain scores. Results: Both Groups I and II had reduced pain scores at discharge as compared to admission; both groups had a significant reduction (P =.046 Group I, and Group II (P =.002), but changes for comparative groups (I and II) were not significant between the two groups (P =.53). Conclusions: Study revealed that both patient-preferred selected music and MHMGRB can meaningfully reduce patients’ anxiety and PACU pain scores.