Effect of music on preoperative anxiety using the Hamilton State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) in patients undergoing cataract surgery in the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Ituku Ozalla

INTRODUCTION: To determine the effectiveness of music in allaying preoperative anxiety in patients scheduled for and undergoing surgery for age-related cataract. METHODS: This is a randomised interventional study of individuals aged 50 years and above who were scheduled for and undergoing cataract surgery under regional anaesthesia, with music (test group) randomly matched with similar individuals undergoing the same procedure but without music (control group). The surgeries were performed at the Ophthalmology Theatre of the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH), Ituku Ozalla, Enugu, Nigeria. Using a systematic random sampling method, a total of 98 patients were selected into two groups. Both groups completed the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) Questionnaire at baseline, immediately on entrance into the preoperative room and 5 min after intervention. The first group listened to music while the second group did not listen to music. Results were analysed using the SPSS V.20 and analysis of variance was used to compare means of variables measured at baseline, preoperative before intervention and preoperative after intervention. Categorical variables were compared using the χ(2) test. Student’s t-test was used to analyse the continuous variables. RESULTS: There was an increase in the anxiety scores in the two groups on entrance into the preoperative room, however, 5 min into intervention, there was a significant decrease in the anxiety scores in the music group and a progressive increase in the anxiety scores in the group without music. CONCLUSION: Music has a positive effect on preoperative anxiety evidenced by the indirect effect of music on the STAI anxiety scores.