Patients’ perception of music versus ordinary sound in a postanaesthesia care unit: A randomised crossover trial

SummaryWe performed an experimental single-blind crossover design study in a postanaesthesia care unit (PACU): (i) to test the hypothesis that patients will experience a higher degree of wellbeing if they listen to music compared to ordinary PACU sounds during their early postoperative care, (ii) to determine if there is a difference over time, and (iii) to evaluate the importance of the acoustic environment and whether patients prefer listening to music during their stay. Two groups received a three-phase intervention: one group (n = 23) experienced music–ordinary sound–music and the second group (n = 21) experienced ordinary sound–music–ordinary sound. Each period lasted 30 min, and after each period the patients assessed their experience of the sound. The results demonstrated a significant difference (p < 0.001) between groups in the proportions of patients reporting that the acoustic environment was of great importance for their wellbeing during the three-phase intervention, and most participants (n = 36 versus n = 8) noticed that they were exposed to different sounds during the PACU period. The results also revealed that most participants (n = 32) preferred listening to music versus listening to ordinary sound (n = 3) while in the PACU (p < 0.001). These findings promote use of listening to music to establish a healing environment for patients in a postanaesthesia care unit.