Effect of listening to music and essential oil inhalation on patients undergoing screening CT colonography: A randomized controlled trial

•Music does not decrease patients’ perceived pain or acceptance during CTC.•Aromatherapy does not affect patients’ perceived pain or experience during CTC.•Music and aroma had little effect on vital signs during CTC.•More participants who listened to music requested music during the next CTC.•More participants who inhaled aroma requested aroma during the next CTC.

ObjectiveTo prospectively evaluate the effect of listening to music and inhaling aroma oil on patients undergoing screening computed tomography colonography.Materials and methodsTwo hundred and twenty four participants were randomly allocated to one of the four groups including: (1) combined music and aroma, (2) music alone, (3) aroma alone, and (4) control. The visual analog scale for pain and a questionnaire were used for subjective outcomes. We also used a pre-test–post-test design to compare the differences in blood pressure and heart rate as objective outcomes.ResultsThere were no statistical differences between the control group and other groups in the visual analog scale or changes in heart rate. Changes in blood pressure were similar. Participants reported good overall experiences. There were no differences in terms of overall satisfaction, pain rating, willingness to repeat the computed tomography colonography procedure in the future, or preference between colonoscopy and computed tomography colonography. More participants using music and/or aroma requested music and/or aroma during the next computed tomography colonography (P < 0.0001).ConclusionAlthough audio and olfactory intervention had little effect on perceived pain or discomfort and vital signs, participants who listened to music and inhaled aroma during the computed tomography colonography preferred music and aroma during the next computed tomography colonography.