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Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2020 Mar 1;29(2):e31-e38.
doi: 10.4037/ajcc2020175.

Decreasing Delirium Through Music: A Randomized Pilot Trial

Sikandar H Khan  1 , Chenjia Xu  2 , Russell Purpura  3 , Sana Durrani  4 , Heidi Lindroth  5 , Sophia Wang  6 , Sujuan Gao  7 , Annie Heiderscheit  8 , Linda Chlan  9 , Malaz Boustani  10 , Babar A Khan  11
Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial

Decreasing Delirium Through Music: A Randomized Pilot Trial

Sikandar H Khan et al. Am J Crit Care. .

Abstract

Background: Management of delirium in intensive care units is challenging because effective therapies are lacking. Music is a promising nonpharmacological intervention.

Objectives: To determine the feasibility and acceptability of personalized music (PM), slow-tempo music (STM), and attention control (AC) in patients receiving mechanical ventilation in an intensive care unit, and to estimate the effect of music on delirium.

Methods: A randomized controlled trial was performed in an academic medical-surgical intensive care unit. After particular inclusion and exclusion criteria were applied, patients were randomized to groups listening to PM, relaxing STM, or an audiobook (AC group). Sessions lasted 1 hour and were given twice daily for up to 7 days. Patients wore noise-canceling headphones and used mp3 players to listen to their music/audiobook. Delirium and delirium severity were assessed twice daily by using the Confusion Assessment Method for the Intensive Care Unit (CAM-ICU) and the CAM-ICU-7, respectively.

Results: Of the 1589 patients screened, 117 (7.4%) were eligible. Of those, 52 (44.4%) were randomized, with a recruitment rate of 5 patients per month. Adherence was higher in the groups listening to music (80% in the PM and STM groups vs 30% in the AC group; P = .01), and 80% of patients surveyed rated the music as enjoyable. The median number (interquartile range) of delirium/coma-free days by day 7 was 2 (1-6) for PM, 3 (1-6) for STM, and 2 (0-3) for AC (P = .32). Median delirium severity was 5.5 (1-7) for PM, 3.5 (0-7) for STM, and 4 (1-6.5) for AC (P = .78).

Conclusions: Music delivery is acceptable to patients and is feasible in intensive care units. Further research testing use of this promising intervention to reduce delirium is warranted.

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Study CONSORT diagram.
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