MUSIC INCREASES SATISFACTION IN ELDERLY OUTPATIENTS UNDERGOING CATARACT-SURGERY

Purpose: Music has long been known to reduce anxiety, minimize the nee d for sedatives, and make patients feel more at ease. The purpose of t he study was to evaluate the effect of music in elderly outpatients un dergoing elective cataract surgery with retrobulbar block and monitore d anaesthetic care using fentanyl of alfentanil and midazolam. Methods : One hundred and twenty one patients were prospectively and randomly assigned to hear: relaxing suggestions, white noise, operating room no ise or relaxing music via audio-cassette headphones. Vital signs were documented before and after retrobulbar block and every 15 min thereaf ter. Anxiety was assessed during the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (ST AI) before and after surgery. Visual analogue scales (VAS) were used t o assess anxiety and patient satisfaction postoperatively with a stand ardized questionnaire. Between group comparisons were made using Chi-s quare, or ANOVA, where appropriate. Results: There were no differences between groups in STAI or anxiety VAS scores at any time. Differences were noted in systolic blood pressure, but not in other vital signs. Patients' ratings of the whole operative experience, satisfaction with the tape played, general level of relaxation and preference for the c hosen tape for subsequent surgery were different (music>relaxing sugge stions>white noise and OR noise, P<0.005). Conclusions: Elderly patien ts undergoing cataract surgery under retrobulbar block were more satis fied with their experience if they heard relaxing music, rather than r elaxing suggestions or white noise or OR noise. The type of auditory s timuli to which the patients were exposed did not influence the level of anxiety.