Optimal timing and effect of music therapy in patients with burn injuries: Systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

Ting-Ju Wu; Kee-Hsin Chen; Wen-Kuan Chiu; Chia-Lin Lee; Hsian-Jenn Wang; Yi-No Kang; Chiehfeng Chen

doi:10.1016/j.burns.2021.07.016

Optimal timing and effect of music therapy in patients with burn injuries: Systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

Burns. 2022 Aug;48(5):1069-1078. doi: 10.1016/j.burns.2021.07.016. Epub 2021 Aug 3.

Authors

Ting-Ju Wu¹, Kee-Hsin Chen², Wen-Kuan Chiu³, Chia-Lin Lee⁴, Hsian-Jenn Wang³, Yi-No Kang⁵, Chiehfeng Chen⁶

Affiliations

¹ School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan.
² Post-Baccalaureate Program in Nursing, College of Nursing, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan; Center for Nursing and Healthcare Research in Clinical Practice Application, Wan Fang Hospital, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan; Evidence-based Knowledge Translation Center, Department of Nursing, Wan Fang Hospital, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan; Cochrane Taiwan, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan.
³ Division of Plastic Surgery, Department of Surgery, Wan Fang Hospital, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan.
⁴ Center for Nursing and Healthcare Research in Clinical Practice Application, Wan Fang Hospital, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan; Division of Plastic Surgery, Department of Surgery, Wan Fang Hospital, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan.
⁵ Cochrane Taiwan, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan; Research Center of Big Data and Meta-Analysis, Wan Fang Hospital, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan; Institute of Health Policy and Management, College of Public Health, National Taiwan University, Taiwan; Evidence-Based Medicine Center, Wan Fang Hospital, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan. Electronic address: academicnono@gmail.com.
⁶ Cochrane Taiwan, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan; Division of Plastic Surgery, Department of Surgery, Wan Fang Hospital, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan; Evidence-Based Medicine Center, Wan Fang Hospital, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan; Department of Public Health, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan. Electronic address: clifchen@tmu.edu.tw.

PMID: 34426015
DOI: 10.1016/j.burns.2021.07.016

Abstract

Background: Burn injuries may have both physiological and psychological consequences. Numerous studies have reported the use of music therapy during burn injury treatment, but the optimal timing for music therapy remains unclear. Therefore, we performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials on patients with burn injuries to analyze the effects of music intervention on them at different timings: background (T0) and time before (T1), during (T2), and after (T3) change dressing (CD).

Method: The PubMed and EMBASE databases were searched for articles published before Novenber 2020 based on predetermined criteria. Our search focused on two keywords: music and burn. Reviewers extracted data from all eligible studies independently. The I² statistic was used to determine statistical heterogeneity. The endpoints included standardized mean differences (SMDs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Relevant Forest plots were also created.

Result: This study finally included seven trials recruiting a total of 524 patients. The results indicated that compared with non-music intervention, music intervention significantly reduced anxiety at T0 (SMD = -1.32, 95% CI [-2.61, -0.02], T1 (SMD = -2.15, 95% CI [-4.30, -0.00]) and T2 (SMD = -0.39, 95% CI [-0.74, -0.04]). Moreover, they also significantly reduced the pain levels at T0 (SMD = -1.59, 95% CI [-2.00, -1.17]) and T2 (SMD = -0.47, 95% CI [-0.82, -0.12]), improved the mental condition, and reduced the amount of opioid analgesics used at T0.

Conclusion: Music therapy seems to have some effects at T0 and T1 in patients with burn injuries. Music therapy was more effective in improving psychological outcomes than physiological outcomes. However, additional high-quality studies related to music therapy for patients with burn injuries are warranted.

Keywords: Evidence-based healthcare; Music; Thermal injuries.

Publication types

Meta-Analysis
Systematic Review

MeSH terms

Anxiety / therapy
Burns* / therapy
Humans
Music Therapy* / methods
Music* / psychology
Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic