Abstract

Aim. This study aimed to examine the effect of music intervention on anxiety in patients with heart failure.

Background. Anxiety as a psychological problem can increase heart rate, respiration rate and blood pressure all of which have an advert effect on heart in patients with cardiovascular disease, particularly patients with heart failure.

Method. This controlled clinical trial study was conducted in Doctor Shariati Hospital affiliated to Tehran University of Medical Sciences. In this study, in each group (control, and music intervention), 25 hospitalized patients with heart failure were recruited through convenience sampling. Then, patients were allocated to groups by simple randomization. Data were collected by demographic characteristic form and Spiel Berger anxiety assessment questionnaire. In music group, music including two of the three types of classical, gentle and Iranian traditional music was played for 20 minutes after meeting for 3 sequential days by a tape recorder and headphone. Before and 15 minutes after intervention, patients' anxiety was measured and compared. Data was analyzed by using independent t-test, Paired t-test, Fisher’s exact test through SPSS.

Findings. There was a statistically significant difference between control and music intervention groups regarding anxiety score. Also, there was a statistically significant difference, before and after music intervention in anxiety score of patients with heart failure (p<0.0001).

Conclusion. The findings indicated that music intervention significantly reduces anxiety in patients with heart failure. Because of the importance of anxiety reduction in patients with heart failure, it is proposed that music intervention be used in the care of these patients.