Effects of music and music video interventions on sleep quality: A randomized controlled trial in adults with sleep disturbances.

OBJECTIVES: The present study aimed to compare the effects of music and music video interventions on objective and subjective sleep quality in adults with sleep disturbances. DESIGN: A randomized controlled trial was performed on 71 adults who were recruited from the outpatient department of a hospital with 1100 beds and randomly assigned to the control, music, and music video groups. INTERVENTIONS: During the 4 test days (Days 2-5), for 30min before nocturnal sleep, the music group listened to Buddhist music and the music video group watched Buddhist music videos. They were instructed to not listen/watch to the music/MV on the first night (pretest, Day 1) and the final night (Day 6). The control group received no intervention. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Sleep was assessed using a one-channel electroencephalography machine in their homes and self-reported questionnaires. RESULTS: The music and music video interventions had no effect on any objective sleep parameters, as measured using electroencephalography. However, the music group had significantly longer subjective total sleep time than the music video group did (Wald χ2=6.23, p=0.04). CONCLUSION: Our study results increase knowledge regarding music interventions for sleep quality in adults with sleep disturbances. This study suggested that more research is required to strengthen the scientific knowledge of the effects of music intervention on sleep quality in adults with sleep disturbances. (ISRCTN94971645).

Effect of Stimulative and Sedative Music Videos on Depressive Symptoms and Physiological Relaxation in Older Adults: A Pilot Study.

Music has been found to improve depressive symptoms and relaxation. However, few studies related to this issue have been conducted using music videos (MVs). The aim was to compare the effects of stimulative and sedative MVs on depressive symptoms and physiological relaxation (i.e., electromyography, heart rate variability, and skin conductance) in older adults with depressive symptoms. Using a 2-week crossover design, interventions alternated between watching a stimulative and sedative MV and vice versa. Each intervention lasted for 30 minutes on 1 day during the first week, and was then alternated to another intervention for 1 day during the following week. Stimulative MVs were more effective in treating depressive symptoms than sedative MVs. Stimulative and sedative MVs had beneficial effects on depressive symptoms and physiological relaxation compared with baseline data. These findings add new knowledge to the literature for health care providers to improve psychophysiological health in older adults with depressive symptoms. [Res Gerontol Nurs. 2016; 9(5):233-242.].

Effects of music on psychophysiological responses and opioid dosage in patients undergoing total knee replacement surgery.

AIM: The present authors examined the effects of listening to music on psychophysiological parameters (blood pressure, heart rate, and respiratory rate) during preoperative and postoperative days and determined whether listening to music could lower pain intensity and opioid dosage during postoperative days in patients who underwent total knee replacements. METHODS: This was a two group repeated measures design for 30 subjects aged 53-85 years who were scheduled for total knee replacement. Subjects were randomly assigned to either a music group or a control group. Psychophysiological parameters were obtained from patients' monitors. A visual analog scale was used to assess postoperative pain. Opioid dosage was recorded and converted to standardized units. Mann-Whitney U-test and generalized estimating equation analysis were used to compare groups. RESULTS: Respiratory rates while in the surgical waiting area were lower for the music group than for the control group (P = 0.02). There was no significant difference between these groups for blood pressure, heart rate, pain intensity, or opioid dosage. However, a within-group comparison showed that systolic blood pressure in the music group was significantly and consistently decreased during postoperative recovery (Wald = 9.21, P = 0.007). CONCLUSION: These results suggest that listening to music stabilized systolic blood pressure in patients during postoperative recovery. However, the effects of music on psychophysiological parameters, pain intensity, and opioid dosage in a surgical setting require further research.

A nationwide survey of nurses' attitudes toward music therapy and their need for education in its application.

BACKGROUND: Music therapy is increasingly used to help heal patients. However, there is a significant gap in the literature about nurses' attitudes toward and need for education in music therapy for nursing practice. This cross-sectional study was conducted to describe nurses' attitudes toward music therapy and determine their need for education in music therapy. METHODS: Participants included 1,197 nurses who were recruited from hospitals in different regions of Taiwan. RESULTS: Participants expressed positive attitudes toward music therapy. Most participants were willing to learn about music therapy. "Skill in using musical instruments" was the most frequently identified educational need. Further study of the discrepancy between the attitudes toward "performing music therapy" and "learning music therapy" is needed to clarify why nurses expected that they would receive no support for attending music therapy education. CONCLUSION: Given participants' attitudes toward music therapy and their motivation for learning, nursing administrators and educators may consider developing policies to further the advancement of music therapy in educational programs and practice.

The effects of music on the sleep quality of adults with chronic insomnia using evidence from polysomnographic and self-reported analysis: a randomized control trial.

BACKGROUND: Research-based evidence supports the therapeutic use of music to improve the sleep quality measured by self-reported questionnaires. However, scientific knowledge of the effects of music measured using standard polysomnography in chronic insomnia adults is currently insufficient. OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of soothing music on objective and subjective sleep quality in adults with chronic insomnia. METHODS: Fifty participants were enrolled in a randomized controlled trial conducted in the sleep laboratory of a hospital, with 25 participants allocated to the music group and 25 to the control group. For four days, the experimental group was exposed to soothing music selected by the participants or researchers for 45 min at nocturnal sleep time, whereas the control group was not exposed to music. Sleep was measured using polysomnography (PSG) and self-reported questionnaires. A general estimating equation was applied to analyze the data. RESULTS: After controlling for baseline data, the music group had significantly better scores for rested rating (p=0.01), shortened stage 2 sleep (p=0.03), and prolonged REM sleep (p=0.04) compared to the control group, shown by the generalized estimating equations. However, there was no evidence of the effectiveness of music on other sleep parameters as measured by PSG. Additional findings indicate no difference in sleep quality between those who listened to their own preferred music (n=10) and those who listened to music selected by the researchers (n=15). CONCLUSION: The results contribute to knowledge of the effectiveness of music as a therapy to improve sleep quality in adults experiencing insomnia. Listening to soothing music at nocturnal sleep time improved the rested rating scores, shortened stage 2 sleep, and prolonged REM sleep, but has little effect on sleep quality as measured by polysomnography and self-reported questionnaires.