Effect of Music Therapy on the Chronic Pain and Midterm Quality of Life of Patients after Mechanical Valve Replacement

Objective: To evaluate the effect of music therapy on the chronic pain and midterm quality of life of patients after mechanical valve replacement. Methods: Patients were divided into two groups according to whether or not they received music therapy. The patients in the music group received 30 minutes of music therapy every day for 6 months after the operation. The patients in the control group received standard treatment and had 30 minutes of quiet rest time every day in the same period. The short-form of McGill Pain Questionnaire (SF-MPQ) was used to evaluate the degree of postoperative chronic pain, and the SF-36 was used to evaluate the midterm quality of life of patients. Results: In terms of the degree of postoperative chronic pain, the score of the pain rating index (PRI) emotional item in the music group was significantly lower than that in the control group. In the evaluation of the postoperative midterm quality of life using the SF-36, the emotional function score in the music group was significantly higher than that in the control group. Conclusion: This study preliminarily showed that music therapy can effectively reduce chronic pain and improve midterm quality of life after surgery.