Implemenation of gainful music in surgery

Perioperative music can have a significant beneficial effect on postoperative pain and anxiety, reduce intraoperative sedative and postoperative opioid medication requirement, and attenuate the physiological stress response to surgery in patients undergoing surgery. Implementation research can assess contextual factors and barriers which can ultimately influence the outcome of an intervention in daily patient care. The aim of this study is to assess the feasibility and effect of implementing music as part of stand perioperative care.

This pilot study will be a single-center explorative, prospective, quasi-experimental pre-test / post-test implementation study performed at the operating department. This study will run from January 2020 till June 2020 and will take place at the Máxima Medical Center (MMC).

The study will consist of 4 different phases:
1. Assessment of current practice, identification of barriers and facilitators for implementation of perioperative music as part of standard surgical care;
2. Development of an effective implementation strategy and protocol;
3. Implementation of protocol and measurement of effect through a prospective, quasi-experimental pre-test / post-test study;
4. Process evaluation through qualitative (effect outcomes) and quantitative (survey, interviews) data

We hypothesize that the implementation of music in perioperative care is feasible and will improve patient outcomes (reduce postoperative pain, reduce opioid analgesic medication requirement, reduce postoperative complications and length of hospital stay and increase satisfaction).

Time during hospital admission

Participating patients will receive music before, during and after surgery, following a predefined implementation protocol by the implementation team. The music intervention starts when the patient has checked in the surgery ward, using a music player and headphone. Patients will receive music during surgery, independent of the type of anesthesia used. The music intervention will be continued during the surgical route to the recovery room and will be discontinued after discharge to the surgical ward or whenever the participant chooses to stop the music intervention. The music intervention will be a preselected list of playlists and patients will be able to choose from this list.