the anxiety reducing effect of preoperative music and the role of ( emotion focused) coping

Preoperative anxiety is a well-known fenomonem. This form of anxiety can cause
negative treatment-outcomes. Yet, because of negative side-effects, less
premedication regimes are proscribed.
Some kwowledge shows that music has anxiety reducing effects on preoperative
anxiety. Small projects at the OR of St. Elisabethhospital Tilburg show
positive effects of music on preoperative anxiety, yet copingstyle of the
patient needs to be considered. Eventually more tailored musicinterventions
probably will leed to a greater anxietyreducing effect.

The positive side-effects of preoperative anxiety reduction are less pain,
need for medication, and postoperative woundinfections. Less anxiety also
leeds to a shorter stay at the hospital and less medical consumption. An
increasing amount of daycare patient sets for another approach of preoperative
anxiety. Premedication causing a variety of side-effects, is less desirable
for daycare patient.
When the patient is transported to the holding OR, premedication (
benzodiazepine) is given orally. Only within an hour the patient will benefit
from the benzodiazepine. In most cases the patient will be transported to the
OR, before they benefit from the premedication. Also the transport to the
holding of the OR will arouse anxiety. Therefore music will be a good
alternative for premedication. Musicintervention that meets the patients
copingstyle will account for more anxiety reduction.

200 participants allocated at-random to one of the 2 groups: 1. Self-chosen
music, 2.no music

Musicintervention: at arrival of the OR holding, 1 group of patients receives
self-chosen music, by headphone. They listen music until they receive
anaesthetics.

This intervention is of minor burden to the participants. Filling out the
questionnaire takes a small time-investment. The physiological measurements are
all routine measurements. It is not necessary to visit the hospital an extra
time.