Effects of music during endoscopy on pain, anxiety and vital signs: a randomized controlled study.

Key Takeaways for GI Nurses

• Music therapy represents a non-pharmacological intervention that can potentially reduce patient anxiety and pain perception during endoscopic procedures without interfering with clinical workflows
• Implementation of music during procedures may help stabilize patient vital signs, contributing to improved procedural safety and patient comfort
• This evidence-based approach offers a cost-effective, easily implementable strategy to enhance patient experience and potentially reduce the need for additional sedation or analgesics
• Music intervention aligns with patient-centered care principles and may improve overall satisfaction scores while supporting nursing goals of holistic patient management

Clinical Relevance

This randomized controlled study provides valuable evidence for GI nurses seeking to optimize patient comfort during endoscopic procedures through non-pharmacological interventions. The findings suggest that incorporating music therapy into standard endoscopy protocols can serve as an adjunctive comfort measure that complements existing sedation and monitoring practices. For endoscopy units, this represents an opportunity to enhance patient experience without significant resource allocation or equipment investment, while potentially reducing procedure-related complications associated with elevated anxiety and physiological stress responses.

From an operational standpoint, music intervention can be seamlessly integrated into existing pre-procedure and intra-procedure nursing protocols. GI nurses can leverage this evidence to advocate for policy changes that standardize music therapy as part of comprehensive patient preparation. The positive effects on vital signs stability may also contribute to improved procedural efficiency by reducing the need for additional interventions to manage anxiety-related physiological changes. This approach supports nursing autonomy in implementing comfort measures and demonstrates the profession's commitment to evidence-based practice in specialized procedural settings.

The study's focus on measurable outcomes—pain, anxiety, and vital signs—provides GI nurses with concrete evidence to support practice changes and quality improvement initiatives. These findings can inform nursing education programs, unit-based competencies, and interdisciplinary discussions about optimizing the procedural environment. Additionally, this research supports the expanding role of GI nurses in patient advocacy and the development of comprehensive care protocols that address both physical and psychological aspects of the endoscopy experience.

Bottom Line

Music therapy during endoscopy emerges as a simple, evidence-based nursing intervention that can meaningfully improve patient outcomes by reducing pain and anxiety while promoting physiological stability—offering GI nurses a practical tool to enhance patient care quality without adding complexity to existing workflows or requiring additional clinical resources.