Music Therapy for Post-cardiac Surgery Pain Management

• Specific Aims:

• Primary Aim: To assess whether music therapy can decrease the amount of opioid type pain medications used.

Hypothesis: Music therapy reduces the amount of opioid type pain medication used in management of post-operative pain and discomfort.

• Secondary Aims:

i. To identify the gender and age groups of patients who can benefit from music therapy as a supplement to post-operative pain management.

Hypothesis: Majority of the population of patient benefits from music therapy as a supplement to postoperative pain management.

ii. To assess whether music therapy can increase patient satisfaction.

Hypothesis: Music therapy increases patient satisfaction.

Inclusion criteria

• Patients undergoing cardiac surgery via median sternotomy

Exclusion criteria

• Emergency cases.
• Patients with hearing impairment.
• Patients with dementia or other mental status changes.
• Patients who are clinically unstable postoperatively.
• Patients who develop postoperative complications.
• Patients who are non-English speaking.