Walworth, D., Rumana, C.S., Nguyen, J., & Jarred, J. (2008). Effects of live music therapy sessions on quality of life indicators, medications administered and hospital length of stay for patients undergoing elective surgical procedures for brain. Journal of Music Therapy, 45, 349–359.

To examine effects of live music therapy on quality-of-life indicators, medications administered, and length of stay in patients undergoing brain surgery

Patients were met 30–45 minutes prior to surgery in the outpatient surgery check-in area, inpatient room, or preoperative holding area and completed baseline study measures. Patients in the experimental group received 20–30 minutes of patient-preferred live music and completed postintervention measures prior to surgery. Those in the experimental group received the music intervention each subsequent day of hospital stay, and completed both pre- and postintervention measures. Patients, family members, and visitors could participate by singing, playing rhythm instruments, or listening. Techniques included lyric analysis, songwriting, progressive muscle relaxation, and guided imagery. Control group patients also completed study measures postoperatively and daily during their hospital stay.

• The study reported on a sample of 27 patients.
• Median patient age was 48 years, with a range of 8–73 years.
• The sample was 55.6% female and 44.4% male.
• Diagnoses included aneurysm, meningioma, neuralgia, malignant neoplasm, osteoma, angioma, intracranial abscess, and metastatic cancer to the brain.
• Surgical procedures varied according to patient situation.

• Single site
• Inpatient setting
• Florida

Patients were undergoing the active treatment phase of care.

A randomized controlled trial design was used.

• Visual analog scale for mood, pain, relaxation, stress, and perception of hospitalization
• Total milligrams of vicodin and morphine
• Medications for nausea
• Hospital length of stay

There were no significant differences between groups for anxiety, mood, pain, perception of hospitalization, relaxation, or stress. There were no differences between groups for medications used. There was no significant difference between groups for length of stay.

Results do not support an effect of live music therapy on anxiety, pain, medication use, or length of hospital stay in patients undergoing brain surgery.

• The study had a small sample, with less than 30 patients.
• The study design lacked an attentional control.
• The practicality of providing such an intervention preoperatively in a check-in area or preoperative holding area is questionable, and the authors did state that many of these interventions were interrupted. Sessions during hospital stay were also interrupted for various aspects of care.
• Range of age was very broad, and no other demographic information about patients was provided.

This study does not demonstrate effectiveness of music therapy in hospitalized patients undergoing brain surgery. Practical application of this type of intervention in most acute inpatient settings and perioperative settings is questionable.