The effect of complementary music intervention on patients’ health related quality of life after tonsillectomy

Purpose Quality of life (QoL) assessment has emerged as an important evaluation tool for therapeutic treatments. The positive impact of complementary music interventions on QoL has been demonstrated in the literature, yet its benefits during the perioperative period in head and neck patients have not been investigated thus far.

Methods Head and neck patients undergoing tonsillectomy were prospectively randomized and consecutively included in the trial. Passive music intervention (60 minutes per day) was applied to the intervention group. QoL was assessed using the Glasgow Benefit Scale (GBI) questionnaire and the Brief Pain Inventory (BPI) questionnaire at three visits during the postoperative phase. Furthermore, patients were asked to document pain levels using a visual analogue scale.

Results Thirty-one patients were enrolled in the study. Quality of life measured by the GBI differed significantly at visit two and three (p=0.049 and p<0.01). Further, significant differences were shown in visit three in the BPI (p<0.01) and in the individual pain diaries from day eight until day fourteen. Conclusion Complementary music interventions may impact patients’ QoL and perceived pain level during the postoperative period after tonsillectomy positively. As a cost-effective and ubiquitous available treatment option, passive music interventions may be easily implemented in clinical practice.

Publication History

Article published online:
12 May 2023