Science & Health
Listening to music before, during and after surgery reduces patients' pain, eases anxiety and lessens the need for painkillers, British scientists said on Thursday, writes Reuters.
After reviewing evidence from around 7,000 patients, the scientists said people going for surgery should be allowed to choose the music they'd like to hear to maximize the benefit.
But they also warned that the music should not interfere with the medical team's communication during an operation.
"Music is a non-invasive, safe, cheap intervention that should be available to everyone undergoing surgery," said Catherine Meads from Brunel University, who co-led the research.
The team conducted a meta-analysis of all published randomized trials looking at how music compares with standard care or other non-drug interventions such as massage and relaxation in effecting recovery of adults after operations.
The results, published in The Lancet journal, found patients were significantly less anxious after surgery and reported more satisfaction after listening to music.
They also needed less pain medication and reported less pain compared with controls.
While the study found listening to music at any time seemed effective, there was a trend for better outcomes if patients listened to music before surgery rather than during or after.
