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NCT Number: NCT07518953

Effect of Music on Pain and Anxiety During Nail Biopsies

This study is looking at whether listening to music during a nail biopsy can reduce pain and anxiety. Patients scheduled for a nail biopsy at the Weill Cornell Medicine dermatology clinic will be randomly assigned to either listen to a calming instrumental/classical music playlist during their procedure or receive standard care without music. After the procedure, participants will complete short questionnaires rating their pain, anxiety, and overall satisfaction. The goal is to determine whether a simple, low-cost music intervention can improve the experience of patients undergoing nail biopsies.

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Key information

Conditions

Procedural Anxiety Neurologic Manifestations Pain Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms Signs and Symptoms

Age range

18 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Male or female ≥18 years of age
  • Scheduled to undergo nail biopsy at the Weill Cornell Medicine dermatology clinic
  • Able to provide informed consent
  • Able to read and understand English

Exclusion criteria

  • Significant hearing impairment that would prevent ability to hear the music intervention
  • Cognitive impairment that would prevent completion of study questionnaires
  • Unable or unwilling to provide informed consent

Treatment and study plan

Music intervention

Behavioral

A standardized playlist of instrumental, classical, and relaxing music delivered to participants beginning 2-3 minutes before local anesthesia administration and continuing throughout the nail biopsy procedure. The music is intended to reduce procedural pain and anxiety as an adjunct to standard care.

Local anesthesia injections

Procedure

Local anesthesia injections

Primary outcomes

  1. Mean pain intensity measured by Visual Analog Scale

    Time frame: Immediately after the nail biopsy procedure

    Total scores range from 0-10 with 10 meaning worst pain imaginable

Secondary outcomes

  1. Mean anxiety score measured by short-form State-Trait Anxiety Inventory

    Time frame: Immediately after the nail biopsy procedure

    Total scores range from 20 - 80 with scores higher than 34 - 36 indicating anxiety

  2. Perceived helpfulness of music intervention (music group only) measured by single-item Likert scale

    Time frame: Immediately after the nail biopsy procedure

    Likert scale ranges from 1 (not helpful at all) to 5 (extremely helpful).

  3. Patient satisfaction score measured by single-item Likert scale rating overall experience

    Time frame: Immediately after the nail biopsy procedure

    1=very dissatisfied to 5=very satisfied

  4. Willingness to undergo future nail biopsy procedures measured by single-item yes/no question

    Time frame: Immediately after the nail biopsy procedure

  5. Number of participants with adverse events related to the procedure

    Time frame: immediately after the nail biopsy procedure

  6. Number of participants with adverse events related to the music intervention

    Time frame: Immediately after nail biopsy procedure

Study contacts

Contact information is provided by the study sponsor or research team.

Shari R Lipner, MD, PhD

CONTACT

[email protected]

(646) 962-3376

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Weill Medical College of Cornell University

Other

Registry information

Important dates

Study start
2026
Primary completion
2027
Study completion
2027
First posted
Apr 9, 2026
Registry last updated
Apr 13, 2026

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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