Study objective: To determine the effect of music during bronchoscopy on patient perception of the procedure.
Design: Prospective randomized trial.
Setting: University-based bronchoscopy suite.
Patients: Twenty-one patients received music (M+), and 28 patients served as controls (M-).
Measurements and results: Physiologic responses, subjective patient perceptions, and administered medications were monitored. After the procedure, the technician and the physician both rated their impression of the patients' comfort levels to see how accurately they correlated with actual patient reports. There was no difference in physiologic responses between the M+ and M- groups. The M+ patients reported significantly greater comfort (p = 0.02) and less cough (p = 0.03) than the M- group, while there was no difference in reported dyspnea P = 0.21). Both physicians and technicians were very inaccurate in their assessments of patient level of comfort. Medications given did not differ for the two groups.
Conclusion: Music during bronchoscopy is a simple and inexpensive nonpharmacologic way to improve patient comfort.