Perioperative anxiety is common among patients undergoing surgery under regional anaesthesia. Intravenous sedative-hypnotic agents such as propofol are commonly administered to reduce anxiety and improve patient comfort; however, pharmacological sedation may reduce patient alertness and cause cardiorespiratory adverse effects. Music may provide a non-pharmacological alternative for reducing perioperative anxiety. This prospective controlled study compared professionally prescribed individualized music with intravenous propofol sedation in adult patients undergoing surgery under regional anaesthesia. Participants in the music group received an individualized playlist curated by a professional music therapist following assessment of their music preferences and listening history. Participants in the sedative-hypnotic group received intravenous propofol sedation titrated according to clinical assessment. Perioperative anxiety was assessed before and after surgery using the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory-State (STAI-S) and a visual analogue scale (VAS). Intraoperative sedation and alertness were assessed using the Bispectral Index (BIS) and Modified Observer's Assessment of Alertness/Sedation (mOAA/S), together with haemodynamic monitoring and patient satisfaction.
This was a prospective, single-centre, parallel-group controlled study conducted at University Malaya Medical Centre, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Adult patients scheduled for surgery under regional anaesthesia were allocated to either a music-therapy group or a sedative-hypnotic group according to their scheduled operating day. Participants assigned to the music intervention underwent a preoperative assessment by a professional music therapist. The assessment included the participant's music-listening history and preferences, following which an individualized playlist was curated for intraoperative listening through headphones. Participants assigned to the sedative-hypnotic group received intravenous propofol using target-controlled infusion, titrated according to clinical assessment and sedation monitoring. Anxiety was evaluated preoperatively and postoperatively using STAI-S and an anxiety VAS. Intraoperative BIS, mOAA/S, haemodynamic variables and relevant rescue interventions were recorded. Postoperative patient satisfaction was also assessed. The study received approval from the Medical Research Ethics Committee, University Malaya Medical Centre (MREC ID 2023418-12366), before participant recruitment, and written informed consent was obtained from all participants. The study was completed before registration on ClinicalTrials.gov.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
NON_RANDOMIZED
Purpose
SUPPORTIVE_CARE
Masking
SINGLE
Enrollment
60
Participants underwent a preoperative music assessment by a professional music therapist that included music-listening history and individual preferences. Based on this assessment, the music therapist curated an individualized playlist for each participant. The prescribed music was delivered intraoperatively through headphones during surgery under regional anaesthesia. Participants remained awake without routine intravenous sedation, although rescue sedation could be administered when clinically required.
Participants received intravenous propofol sedation by target-controlled infusion during surgery under regional anaesthesia. Sedation was titrated according to clinical assessment using Bispectral Index (BIS) and Modified Observer's Assessment of Alertness/Sedation (mOAA/S) monitoring.
University Malaya Medical Centre
Kuala Lumpur, Federal Territory of Kuala L, Malaysia
Change in State Anxiety Measured by the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory-State (STAI-S)
State anxiety was assessed using the 20-item State-Trait Anxiety Inventory-State (STAI-S) before and after surgery. The total score ranges from 20 to 80, with higher scores indicating greater state anxiety. The outcome was the change in STAI-S score from the preoperative to the postoperative assessment.
Time frame: Perioperative period: During preoperative assessment at the operating theatre reception bay; And during postoperative assessment in the post-anaesthesia recovery room, on the day of surgery
Change in Anxiety Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) Score
Anxiety was assessed using a Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) ranging from 1 (least anxious) to 10 (most anxious), with higher scores indicating greater anxiety. The outcome was the change in VAS score from the preoperative to the postoperative assessment.
Time frame: Perioperative period: During preoperative assessment at the operating theatre reception bay; And during postoperative assessment in the post-anaesthesia recovery room, on the day of surgery
Intraoperative Bispectral Index (BIS)
Depth of sedation was assessed using the Bispectral Index (BIS). BIS values were recorded at 10-minute intervals during surgery to assess the level of sedation during the assigned intervention.
Time frame: Every 10 minutes from the start of surgery until completion of surgery.
Intraoperative Level of Sedation Measured by Modified Observer's Assessment of Alertness/Sedation (mOAA/S)
Alertness and sedation were assessed using the modified Observer's Assessment of Alertness/Sedation (mOAA/S) scale, ranging from 0 to 5. A score of 5 indicates that the participant is alert and responds readily to their name spoken in a normal tone, whereas a score of 0 indicates no response to a painful trapezius squeeze. Higher scores therefore indicate greater alertness and lower levels of sedation. mOAA/S was assessed at 10-minute intervals during surgery.
Time frame: Every 10 minutes from the start of surgery until completion of surgery.
Intraoperative Systolic Blood Pressure
Systolic blood pressure was recorded at 10-minute intervals during surgery to assess haemodynamic changes during the assigned intervention.
Time frame: Every 10 minutes from the start of surgery until completion of surgery.
Intraoperative Diastolic Blood Pressure
Diastolic blood pressure was recorded at 10-minute intervals during surgery to assess haemodynamic changes during the assigned intervention.
Time frame: Every 10 minutes from the start of surgery until completion of surgery
Intraoperative Heart Rate
Heart rate was recorded at 10-minute intervals during surgery to assess haemodynamic changes during the assigned intervention.
Time frame: Every 10 minutes from the start of surgery until completion of surgery
Postoperative Patient Satisfaction
Overall satisfaction with the intervention provided during surgery was assessed using a verbal numerical rating scale ranging from 1 (least satisfied) to 10 (most satisfied), with higher scores indicating greater satisfaction.
Time frame: Postoperative period: During assessment in the post-anaesthesia recovery room, on the same day of surgery
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