Music therapy soothes patients before, during and after surgery, besides reducing pain and speeding up recovery time, states study.
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Calm, slow, gentle music was shown to produce the most positive results and facilitate relaxation and pain reduction in patients.
Data proposes that music could be beneficial in reducing cost and length of stay in intensive care units, the Southern Medical Journal reported.
Patients were less anxious before the procedure and recovered more quickly and satisfactorily after being exposed to music during surgery and post-operation phase. They also required less sedation and reported better satisfaction with their medical experience, according to a Kentucky statement.
"Here at UK (University of Kentucky), our music therapists regularly use music-based interventions to help patients manage both pain and anxiety," said Lori Gooding, Kentucky director of music therapy, who led the review.
Music that is selected by trained personnel is preferred because specific guidelines for music selection should be followed in order to maximize its positive effect on patients, though the patient's musical tastes should still be considered.
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Gooding and colleague Olivia Yinger will be presenting these findings in Sweden in 2013.
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