The Effect of Music on Anxiety and Pain in Women Undergoing Gynecological Exam and Smear Test

Abstract

Aim: The screening for cervical cancer is a standard procedure at the gynecology outpatient clinic. Although a smear test is a simple process for gynecologists, patients might experience anxiety during a gynecological examination and smear test. The aim of this study is to determine the complementary value of music before and during the smear test on patients' pain and anxiety during and after the procedure Materials and Methods: This randomized controlled study included 160 Turkish-speaking women over 30 years old undergoing smear tests, divided into music and control groups. Music or no music was played during the procedures using a speaker system to maintain communication between the patient and the physician. Data on anxiety and pain were collected using the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) and the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) before and after the exams. Results: A total of 160 patients were included in the study, 80 patients in the music group and 80 patients in the control group. The mean State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) score in the music therapy group was 36 (SD = 13) and 41 (SD = 17) in the control group (p = 0.042). According to the STAI score, 28 patients (35%) in the control group had a high level of anxiety, whereas only 15 patients (19%) in the music therapy group had a high level of anxiety. Similarly, in the post-smear test evaluation, visual analogue scale scores were statistically lower in the music therapy group (4.3 vs. 2.7, p = 0.001). Conclusion: Our study showed that music therapy during gynecological examination and smear test can reduce anxiety and pain. As a non-invasive intervention, music intervention is a safe, low-risk, cost-effective and easy-to-perform intervention with no apparent harmful effects.

Keywords

• Pain
• Anxiety
• Music
• Gynecological Exam
• Smear Test

Jinekolojik muayene ve smear testi uygulanan kadınlarda müziğin anksiyete ve ağrı üzerine etkisi

Abstract

Amaç: Serviks kanseri taraması, kadın hastalıkları polikliniklerinde rutin olarak uygulanan bir işlemdir. Her ne kadar smear testi jinekologlar açısından basit bir işlem olsa da, hastalar bu süreçte anksiyete yaşayabilmektedir. Bu çalışmanın amacı, smear testi öncesinde ve sırasında uygulanan müzik müdahalesinin hastaların işlem sırasındaki ve sonrasındaki ağrı ve anksiyete düzeylerine olan tamamlayıcı etkisini değerlendirmektir. Gereç ve Yöntemler: Bu randomize kontrollü çalışmaya, smear testi yapılacak olan ve Türkçe konuşan, 30 yaş üzeri 160 kadın dahil edilmiştir. Katılımcılar rastgele müzik ve kontrol grubu olmak üzere ikiye ayrılmıştır. İşlem sırasında, hasta ve hekim arasındaki iletişimi korumak amacıyla hoparlör sistemi aracılığıyla müzik çalınmış ya da müzik çalınmamıştır. Anksiyete ve ağrı düzeyleri, işlem öncesi ve sonrası Devlet-Sürekli Kaygı Envanteri (STAI) ve Görsel Analog Skala (VAS) ile değerlendirilmiştir. Bulgular: Çalışmaya toplam 160 hasta dahil edilmiştir; 80’i müzik grubunda, 80’i kontrol grubundadır. Müzik grubundaki ortalama STAI skoru 36 (SD = 13) iken, kontrol grubunda 41 (SD = 17) olarak saptanmıştır (p = 0,042). STAI skorlarına göre, kontrol grubundaki 28 hastada (%35) yüksek düzeyde anksiyete saptanırken, müzik grubunda bu sayı yalnızca 15 (%19) olarak bulunmuştur. Benzer şekilde, işlem sonrası yapılan değerlendirmede müzik grubunda VAS skorları anlamlı derecede daha düşüktür (4,3’e karşı 2,7, p = 0,001). Sonuç: Çalışmamız, jinekolojik muayene ve smear testi sırasında uygulanan müzik terapisinin anksiyete ve ağrıyı azaltabileceğini göstermektedir. İnvaziv olmayan bu yöntem, zararlı bir etkisi bulunmayan, düşük riskli, maliyeti düşük ve uygulanması kolay tamamlayıcı bir müdahale olarak değerlendirilebilir.

Keywords

• ağrı
• anksiyete
• müzik
• jinekolojik muayene
• smear testi

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