Prospective randomized study on the effect of music on anxiety and pain related to CT-guided percutaneous interventions

Background CT-guided percutaneous interventions may cause patients to experience high levels of stress and anxiety, negatively affecting post-interventional outcomes. Music played during medical interventions has been shown to reduce anxiety and pain, yet the effect of music on patients undergoing interventional radiology procedures has not been evaluated. The aim of this study was to assess whether music played during CT-guided percutaneous interventions may reduce anxiety and pain. Methods This prospective randomized controlled trial included patients undergoing CT-guided transcutaneous procedures. The final analysis included a total of 209 patients, randomized into a music group (MG, n = 107) and a control group (CG, n = 102). Items of state and trait anxiety were analysed using the short form of the State Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI-6) before and after the procedure. Post-procedural pain was assessed with the numeric rating scale (NRS) with faces. Results Patients in the MG exhibited lower anxiety and a greater reduction in anxiety levels as compared to patients in the CG (p < 0.001, respectively). The median change of anxiety was 6.5 +/- 3.8 (range: -3 to 14) in the MG versus 3.7 +/- 3.5 (range: -6 to 13) in the CG. Post-procedural pain showed a value of 2 +/- 2.1 (median, range: 0 to 9) in the MG, versus 6 +/- 2.4, (median, range: 0 to 10) in the CG. Conclusion Exposure to music during CT-guided percutaneous interventions can aid in significantly lowering peri-interventional anxiety and pain and thus improve overall patient care without any negative side effects. Key Points Question Does listening to music during CT-guided percutaneous interventions reduce peri-interventional anxiety and pain in patients? Findings This prospective randomized-controlled trial found that patients exposed to music during CT-guided interventions experienced significantly lower levels of anxiety and pain compared to those in a control group. Clinical relevance Incorporating music into CT-guided interventions provides an easy, non-invasive, and cost-effective method to reduce patient anxiety and pain in the clinical setting.