Music before orthopedic surgery reduced anxiety scores in a pilot trial
Patients assigned to calming instrumental music had a greater reduction in anxiety scores than those receiving routine care, but the abstract does not quantify the difference.
Based on the published abstract. The full paper may contain additional methods, results and limitations.
The 30-second takeaway
This pilot trial supports a short-term reduction in measured anxiety before elective orthopedic surgery with a calming music session. However, the abstract provides neither participant numbers nor the size of the difference between groups. It therefore cannot show how substantial the benefit was or whether it continued beyond the immediate assessment.
The abstract omits sample size, numerical anxiety scores and confidence intervals. It also does not report later anxiety outcomes, limiting assessment of the precision, practical importance and persistence of the finding.
What researchers found
Anxiety measured with the VIRA scale
After the 30-minute preoperative session, anxiety scores decreased more with music than with routine care without music; no effect size was reported.
A defined preoperative comparison
Participants were randomly assigned to music or routine care, and anxiety was assessed before and after the session. The reported difference concerns anxiety around the procedure; the abstract does not report an effect on surgical recovery.
Physiological results need a distinction
Systolic blood pressure and heart rate improved within the music group. The abstract does not report corresponding between-group differences, so these observations alone do not establish superiority over routine care. No adverse effects were reported.
The original publication
Effectiveness of Music Intervention on Perioperative Anxiety and Physiological Indicators in Orthopedic Surgery Patients: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial.
Hsieh MY, Chen C, Chen YH et al.
J Perianesth Nurs · 2026
- PubMed ID
- 40838926
- Record checked
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