A new study published in the medical journal The Lancet shows that listening to music can help drop the level of pain that patients feel while undergoing surgery. The study, which was conducted by the Brunel University and Queen Mary University of London, revealed the benefits of playing music before, during and after a surgical procedure.
Researchers found out that patients who were allowed to listen to their favorite music reduced not just their pain but also their anxiety. On a scale of 1 to 10, the pain levels drop by two points. The patients also needed less medication to feel comfortable during and after the operation.
The study involved 7,000 surgical patients who underwent 72 trials. The positive effect was observed from individuals who listened to music while under general anaesthetic or asleep. But a larger effect was detected from those who are conscious.
Catherine Meads from Brunel University who is the head of the study promotes the new procedure which she believes should be applied.
"Around 4.6 million in England each year and music is a non-invasive, safe, cheap intervention that should be available to everyone undergoing surgery."
Dr Paul Glasziou of Bond University in Australia also said the same thing about music. He says, "Music is a simple and cheap intervention, which reduces transient discomforts for many patients undergoing surgery.
Another study about music made at Wexner Medical Center in Ohio State University showed that it can also help people suffering from epilepsy. Epileptics perceive music in a different way and researchers believe that it can offer a potential help for the patients.
However, researchers also warn that music should be used in a proper way. Medical teams must not allow music to become an interruption during surgical operations. Patients must be allowed to listen to the right kind of music that will maximize the benefits and not interfere the team's communication.
Experts suggest that music should not be imposed on the medical team to avoid putting patients at risk during procedures due to miscommunication.
