Effect of Music Therapy in Pain and Anxiety Management for Patients Treated With Stitches

Wounds represent a frequent reason for admission to emergency department (5 to 7% of visits), inducing pain and anxiety due to the trauma itself and also to the treatment, stitches being the most frequently used procedure.

Alternative, non-pharmacologic strategies may help reduce pain and anxiety associated with painful bedside procedures. Music is one of them, easy to use and without any side effects.

Music therapy has already been shown to reduce pain and anxiety levels in children during medical procedures (blood test, vaccination, lumbar puncture) and in adults during surgical or anaesthetic procedures.

Our objective is to apply this technic to adults in emergency departments during stitches wound management.

This is a study before / after the implementation of a music therapy protocol during stiches wound management. During the music period, the participant will choose and listen to one of the five playlists (vocal jazz, instrumental jazz, piano, world music, Mozart) created by a professional music therapist, via headphones. There will be no change in stitches wound management.

Pain and anxiety levels will be measured by visual analog scale before, during and after the stitches procedure.

Inclusion criteria

• ≥ 18 years old
• Acute skin wound with need for stitches
• National health service coverage
• No opposition

Exclusion criteria

• Conditions interfering with consent or measures (no French-fluent, acute intoxication, neurologic or psychiatric pathology)
• Wound requiring surgical exploration
• Wound localized on or around an ear
• Major insufficiency of auditory function