Music intervention as a strategy to reduce preoperative anxiety: an umbrella review

Abstract Background Preoperative anxiety is pervasive among patients awaiting surgical procedures and is associated with an increased risk of postoperative complications. Music intervention is a promising strategy to alleviate preoperative anxiety levels and is easily implementable even in busy clin...

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Main Authors: Ke-Lu Yang, Elke Detroyer, Ming-Ming Niu, Danny Feike Hoogma, Jin-Hui Tian, Steffen Rex, Koen Milisen
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-08-01
Series:BMC Anesthesiology
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12871-025-03120-z
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author Ke-Lu Yang
Elke Detroyer
Ming-Ming Niu
Danny Feike Hoogma
Jin-Hui Tian
Steffen Rex
Koen Milisen
author_facet Ke-Lu Yang
Elke Detroyer
Ming-Ming Niu
Danny Feike Hoogma
Jin-Hui Tian
Steffen Rex
Koen Milisen
author_sort Ke-Lu Yang
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Preoperative anxiety is pervasive among patients awaiting surgical procedures and is associated with an increased risk of postoperative complications. Music intervention is a promising strategy to alleviate preoperative anxiety levels and is easily implementable even in busy clinical settings. Our objective was to conduct an umbrella review of systematic reviews studying the efficacy of music intervention in reducing preoperative anxiety among adult patients. Methods To identify systematic reviews assessing the effects of music intervention on preoperative anxiety in adult surgical patients, we retrieved MEDLINE via PubMed, EMBASE, CINAHL, and the Cochrane Library from inception until 22 August 2024. The primary outcome was to review the overall efficacy of music intervention in reducing preoperative anxiety levels. In addition, specific details regarding the implementation of music intervention were also summarized. We assessed the quality of the included systematic reviews by using A MeaSurement Tool to Assess Systematic Reviews 2 checklist. Results Six eligible systematic reviews (i.e. one high-quality, four moderate-quality, and one low-quality review) analyzing 40 primary studies were included. The reporting on the intervention content and its implementation process was often unsatisfactory, with some key information missing. The pooled results on the reduction of preoperative anxiety using music intervention were statistically significant (MD = -5.20, 95%CI (-6.32, -4.07), I2 = 49%). Subgroup analyses revealed that music intervention had a more pronounced effect when the duration of the intervention was 20 min or longer and in patients younger than 60 years of age. Conclusion Music intervention may have a beneficial effect on reducing preoperative anxiety levels. However, to optimize the integration of music intervention into routine clinical practice, high-quality evidence and especially clearer reporting on the implementation methods are required. Registration PROSPERO (CRD42022333246).
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spelling doaj-art-4a07f42bfbd041c9beef7275ae372d8c2025-08-24T11:47:27ZengBMCBMC Anesthesiology1471-22532025-08-0125111410.1186/s12871-025-03120-zMusic intervention as a strategy to reduce preoperative anxiety: an umbrella reviewKe-Lu Yang0Elke Detroyer1Ming-Ming Niu2Danny Feike Hoogma3Jin-Hui Tian4Steffen Rex5Koen Milisen6Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Academic Centre for Nursing and Midwifery, KU Leuven - University of LeuvenDepartment of Public Health and Primary Care, Academic Centre for Nursing and Midwifery, KU Leuven - University of LeuvenAmbulatory Surgery Center, Xijing Hospital, Air Force Military Medical UniversityDepartment of Anesthesiology, University Hospitals LeuvenEvidence-Based Medicine Center, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou UniversityDepartment of Anesthesiology, University Hospitals LeuvenDepartment of Public Health and Primary Care, Academic Centre for Nursing and Midwifery, KU Leuven - University of LeuvenAbstract Background Preoperative anxiety is pervasive among patients awaiting surgical procedures and is associated with an increased risk of postoperative complications. Music intervention is a promising strategy to alleviate preoperative anxiety levels and is easily implementable even in busy clinical settings. Our objective was to conduct an umbrella review of systematic reviews studying the efficacy of music intervention in reducing preoperative anxiety among adult patients. Methods To identify systematic reviews assessing the effects of music intervention on preoperative anxiety in adult surgical patients, we retrieved MEDLINE via PubMed, EMBASE, CINAHL, and the Cochrane Library from inception until 22 August 2024. The primary outcome was to review the overall efficacy of music intervention in reducing preoperative anxiety levels. In addition, specific details regarding the implementation of music intervention were also summarized. We assessed the quality of the included systematic reviews by using A MeaSurement Tool to Assess Systematic Reviews 2 checklist. Results Six eligible systematic reviews (i.e. one high-quality, four moderate-quality, and one low-quality review) analyzing 40 primary studies were included. The reporting on the intervention content and its implementation process was often unsatisfactory, with some key information missing. The pooled results on the reduction of preoperative anxiety using music intervention were statistically significant (MD = -5.20, 95%CI (-6.32, -4.07), I2 = 49%). Subgroup analyses revealed that music intervention had a more pronounced effect when the duration of the intervention was 20 min or longer and in patients younger than 60 years of age. Conclusion Music intervention may have a beneficial effect on reducing preoperative anxiety levels. However, to optimize the integration of music intervention into routine clinical practice, high-quality evidence and especially clearer reporting on the implementation methods are required. Registration PROSPERO (CRD42022333246).https://doi.org/10.1186/s12871-025-03120-zPreoperative anxietyUmbrella reviewSystematic reviewSurgeryMusic intervention
spellingShingle Ke-Lu Yang
Elke Detroyer
Ming-Ming Niu
Danny Feike Hoogma
Jin-Hui Tian
Steffen Rex
Koen Milisen
Music intervention as a strategy to reduce preoperative anxiety: an umbrella review
BMC Anesthesiology
Preoperative anxiety
Umbrella review
Systematic review
Surgery
Music intervention
title Music intervention as a strategy to reduce preoperative anxiety: an umbrella review
title_full Music intervention as a strategy to reduce preoperative anxiety: an umbrella review
title_fullStr Music intervention as a strategy to reduce preoperative anxiety: an umbrella review
title_full_unstemmed Music intervention as a strategy to reduce preoperative anxiety: an umbrella review
title_short Music intervention as a strategy to reduce preoperative anxiety: an umbrella review
title_sort music intervention as a strategy to reduce preoperative anxiety an umbrella review
topic Preoperative anxiety
Umbrella review
Systematic review
Surgery
Music intervention
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12871-025-03120-z
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