Evaluation of Music Therapy for Pre-op/Intra-op During Hernia Surgery to Decrease the Need for Narcotics

The purpose of this study is to investigate if audible distraction, in the form of music, before and/or during hernia repair surgery will decrease pain post-operatively.

Enrolling by Invitation

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Key information

Conditions

Surgery Neurologic Manifestations Pain Pain, Postoperative Pathologic Processes Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms Postoperative Complications Signs and Symptoms

Age range

18 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Bethesda Surgery Center

Cincinnati, Ohio, 45242, United States

About this study

After performing a thorough review of the literature, no studies were found that examined whether having a patient listen to a genre of music of their choosing before or during surgery impacts their postoperative pain. Music is a way to relax patients and could potentially decrease pain, which is a goal of perioperative services. The current study seeks to fill the gap and examine the impact of music on pain for surgical patients undergoing a hernia repair.

This study will use a randomized, double-blinded, controlled design with four arms:

Arm 1: Patient will listen to music before their surgery in pre-operative area only
Arm 2: Patient will listen to music before and during their surgery
Arm 3: Patient will listen to music during their surgery only
Arm 4: Patient will not listen to music during their visit

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

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

Inclusion criteria

Aged 18 years or older
Receiving surgery at Bethesda Surgery Center

Exclusion criteria

Does not speak English
Unable to consent to involvement in the research study
Having more than 1 hernia repair performed
Pregnant
Deaf
Wears hearing aids
Currently on medication-assisted treatment for substance use disorder (ex: suboxone or methadone)

Treatment and study plan

Music

Other

Music of the participant's selected genre will be played through headphones according to the arm assigned.

Primary outcomes

Highest pain score reported

Time frame: from admission to discharge from PACU, up to 8 hours

Highest pain score reported in the Post Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU); Pain is measured on a 0-10 scale where a higher number corresponds with more pain
Total narcotic administered

Time frame: from admission to discharge from PACU, up to 8 hours

Total morphine milligram equivalent (MME) of narcotics administered while in PACU

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

TriHealth Inc.

Other

Registry information

Important dates

Study start: 2024
Primary completion: 2026
Study completion: 2027
First posted: May 6, 2025
Registry last updated: Feb 17, 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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