Music Therapy in the Intensive Care Unit and Maternity Ward: Effects of Preferred Music on Behavioral Responses, Emotional State, and Perceived Wellbeing in Conscious Hospitalized Patients — A Pilot Observational Study

Background: Music therapy has been proposed as an inexpensive, non-pharmacological way to improve emotional state and reduce anxiety in hospitalized patients, including those in intensive care. Objective: To describe the self-reported and behavioral emotional changes experienced by conscious inpatients during a short, individualized music-listening session. Methods: Pilot observational study in two public hospitals in Guarulhos, São Paulo, Brazil. Twenty-nine conscious inpatients (27 women, 2 men; ages 17–82, mean 43.8) listened to individually selected or familiar music through headphones at the bedside: 19 in the Obstetric Pathology unit of a maternity hospital, 4 in a general medical/surgical ward and 6 in an intensive care unit. Observed behavior (tearfulness, eye closure, humming, facial expression) was recorded during the session; afterwards each patient answered an open-ended question and rated the overall experience, its effect on their emotional state and whether all patients should have access to it. Written informed consent was obtained from every participant. Results: 24 of 29 patients (83%) rated the experience very positive and 5 (17%) positive; none rated it negative. 25 (86%) said it made a big difference to their emotional state, 3 (10%) some difference and 1 (3%) a small difference. Emotional states most often reported were peace, comfort, distraction, hope, happiness and recall of good memories. 27 of 29 said the intervention should be available to all patients. Observed behavior (closed eyes, smiling, humming, tears) was consistent with the self-reports. Conclusion: A short, individualized music-listening session is feasible in maternity, general-ward and intensive-care settings and is well received. The study was single-arm and uncontrolled, with no physiological measures or validated anxiety scales, so a controlled study with physiological outcomes and a silence or neutral-sound comparison condition is recommended.