Effects of music intervention during caesarean section on anxiety and stress of the expectant mother – A prospective, controlled, randomized study

Introduction:

Stress and anxiety during pregnancy and childbirth can have negative consequences for both mother and child. There are indications that music can have a positive effect in this situation. The present study investigates the influence of music during caesarean section on anxiety and stress perception of the expectant mother.

Methods:

The SAMBA study is a single centre, prospective, controlled, randomized study. Patients in the intervention group heard music via loudspeakers from one of four self-selected genres during the caesarean section performed in regional anaesthesia. At admission, at skin incision, during skin suture and two hours after completion of surgery different subjective (STAI-state, visual analogue scale anxiety (VAS-A)) and objective parameters (salivary cortisol/amylase, heart rate, blood pressure) were collected.

Results:

304 patients participated in the study. At the time of skin suture, significantly lower anxiety levels were reported in the intervention group regarding STAI-state (p= 0.004) and VAS-A (p= 0.018). Two hours after surgery, the measured VAS-A score in the intervention group was still significantly lower (p= 0.018). The objective parameters showed significant differences between groups in salivary cortisol increase from admission to skin suture (p= 0.043), as well as systolic blood pressure (p= 0.002) and heart rate (p= 0.049) at skin incision.

Conclusion:

Music during caesarean section is an easy to implement, effective mean to reduce stress and anxiety of the expectant mother.