Evaluation of The Effect of Music Therapy on Fear of Needle Electromyography

Overview

Electroneuromyography (ENMG) is a frequently employed methodology in the diagnosis and monitoring of neuromuscular disorders. It encompasses two principal components: nerve conduction studies (NCS) and needle electromyography (EMG). While NST is conducted with the application of electrical stimulation, which may result in mild discomfort, needle EMG is employed for the examination of muscle electrical activity. It is acknowledged that the procedure may cause discomfort, anxiety and fear in patients, which may have an adverse effect on the test results. A variety of methods have been proposed to mitigate discomfort, including oral ibuprofen, cognitive therapy, and topical agents. Music therapy has demonstrated efficacy in alleviating anxiety and pain during numerous medical procedures; however, its impact on pain and anxiety during needle EMG remains unexplored. This study aims to examine the influence of music therapy on pain and anxiety in individuals undergoing needle EMG. To this end, the effects of needle EMG and music therapy on pain and anxiety will be contrasted in two distinct groups.

The objective of this study was to include 58 patients who had been referred to the Erciyes University Faculty of Medicine, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Electroneurophysiology Unit with a prediagnosis of lumbosacral radiculopathy. Following the provision of written informed consent, patients who have agreed to participate in the study will be included. Following the assessment of the inclusion and exclusion criteria, the demographic data of the eligible patients (gender, age, weight, height, body mass index, marital status, occupation, education level) will be recorded on the patient evaluation form. A comprehensive inquiry will be conducted into the patients' backgrounds, including their medication history, surgical history, preexisting medical conditions, and habits such as smoking and alcohol consumption. Subsequently, the patients will be randomly assigned to either the music treatment group or the control group. In the music group, patients will be provided with the option of listening to a range of relaxing instrumental music, including classical, original, Spanish, jazz, and mystical genres, throughout the EMG procedure. In the control group, no additional procedures will be conducted beyond the routine. To ensure consistency and accuracy, all patients will undergo the same set of measurements before and after the procedure, including the duration of the test, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, and pulse per minute. The patient's perception of pain during the procedure will be evaluated using the visual analogue scale (VAS), and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), and Hospital Anxiety Depression Scale (HAD) questionnaires will be completed to assess anxiety levels. Additionally, the level of satisfaction with the procedure, the willingness to undergo the procedure again in the future, the degree of anxiety experienced during the procedure, and the perceived difficulty of the procedure by the physician performing it will be evaluated using a visual analogue scale (VAS) with a range of 0 to 10 points.