The effects on patient well-being of music listening as a nursing intervention: a review of the literature

A review of the therapeutic potential of music listening as a nursing inter vention was performed. It revealed that evidence from a variety of fields and clinical specialitie s existed, including the use of music in critical care environments, surgic al settings, dental surgery applications, mental healthcare, pain control, and generally for the control of anxiety and promotion of relaxation. Due to a number of reasons, including the variety of dependent variables th at mere measured and methodological issues such as the use of small sample sizes, it is difficult to form any firm conclusions. Tentatively, the reseal ch seems to indicate that there often appeal to be positive changes in physiological variables measured, although these change s are not consistent, nor are they always statistically significant. More confidence can be placed in research that examines psychological varia bles, as a consistent positive impact on certain measures has been found.