The effects of music therapy in endotracheal suctioning of mechanically ventilated patients

ABSTRACT Background Endotracheal suctioning has been identified as a painful procedure for critically ill patients. Aim To determine the effect of music therapy on pain intensity, sedation level and physiological parameters during endotracheal suctioning of mechanically ventilated patients in cardiovascular surgery intensive care unit (ICU). Design Experimental survey. Methods The study was conducted between May 2010 and June 2013 in Ordu Medical Park Hospital Cardiovascular Surgery Intensive Care Unit. The study sample consisted of 66 patients (33 experimental and 33 control) who complied with the criteria of inclusion for the study. Data was collected using the ‘Patient Information Form’, ‘Critical‐Care Pain Observation Tool’, ‘Ramsay Sedation Scale’ and ‘Form of Physiological Parameters’. Results The mean scores of the Ramsay Sedation Scale during endotracheal aspiration were respectively 1·88 and 1·55 in the experimental and control group and the difference between the groups was statistically significant ( p = 0·003). The mean score of Critical‐Care Pain Observation Tool during endotracheal suctioning in the experimental group was found to be lower statistically than those of the control group ( p < 0·001). There were no significant differences before, during and 20 min after suctioning between the two groups with regard to systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, heart rate and oxygen saturation ( p > 0·05). Conclusions The results of this study implies that music therapy can be effective practice for nurses attempting to reduce patients' pain and control sedation level in patients on mechanical ventilators during endotracheal suctioning. Relevance to clinical practice It is recommended that music therapy should be added to the routine nursing care for mechanically ventilated patients.