Feasibility & Acceptability of a Patient-Oriented Music Intervention to Reduce Pain in the Intensive Care: A Pilot Trial

Introduction Many patients experience pain in the intensive care unit (ICU) despite receiving pain medication. Research has shown that music can help manage pain. Music interventions that have been studied so far have not been based on patient preferences, recommended tempo and duration, nor used music streaming. It is important that a music intervention take into consideration the expertise of ICU patients, family members and nurses/orderlies. Study objectives This study aims to evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of a new patient-oriented music intervention (POMI) to reduce pain in ICU patients. In addition, the aim is to evaluate the feasibility of conducting a crossover randomized controlled trial (RCT) to test the interventions in the adult ICU. A secondary objective will be to examine the preliminary efficacy of the POMI. Methodology/Study Design A single-blind 2x2 crossover pilot RCT will be used to evaluate the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy of the POMI. Patients will undergo a sequence of two intervention periods: the POMI and the Active Control intervention (ACI; headphones/pillow without music). Patients will be randomly assigned to Sequence 1 or Sequence 2, where patients in Sequence 1 receive the POMI during the first intervention period, followed by the ACI in the second intervention period; and patients in Sequence 2 receive the ACI first, followed be the POMI (with a 4-hour washout period). Before the turning procedure, music will be stopped, and the headphones will be removed. For patients able to self-report, the music (or control period without music) will be delivered either via headphones or a music pillow, depending on their individual preference. For patients unable to self-report, music (or control period without music) will be delivered via the music pillow. Twenty-four patients (12 patients able to self-report their pain and 12 patients unable to self-report) will be recruited. The 12 patients able to self-report will be asked about their music preferences and to complete an acceptability questionnaire (AQ). For the 12 patients unable to self-report, 12 family members will be recruited to answer questions on the patient's music preferences and to complete an AQ. In addition, 12 nurses/orderlies (involved in the turning procedure for a patient participant) will be recruited and asked to complete an AQ.