Effects of sedative music on the respiratory status of clients with chronic obstructive airways diseases

Abstract

A quasi-experimental, pre-test post-test study was conducted to examine the effects of sedative music on the perception of dyspnea intensity, respiratory rate, pulse rate and oxyhemoglobin saturation level of clients with Chronic Obstructive Airway Disease (COAD). Data was collected on a convenience sample of 10 subjects who acted as their own control. After a six minutes walk, each subject was randomly exposed to a treatment (listening to music for 20 minutes) and to a control (resting for 20 minutes) situation. A series of paired t-tests was performed to analyze the data. Results indicated that the mean pulse rate and mean respiratory rate were significantly lower after listening to music than after resting only. Correlational analysis indicated that the perceived intensity of dyspnea is positively correlated with pulse and respiratory rates, and negatively correlated with oxygen saturation level. Encouraging clients with COAD to listen to music is a supplemental nursing intervention aiming at reducing dyspnea perception, pulse and respiratory rates.