Effects of music listening on depressed women in Taiwan

Does music during labor affect mode of delivery in first labor after epidural anesthesia? A prospective study

KEY MESSAGE

Listening to music during labor increases the likelihood that primiparas will have a spontaneous vaginal delivery.

PURPOSE

To examine the effects of exposure to music during labor on the mode of delivery and parturients' stress levels.

METHODS

This prospective, interventional study included 124 low-risk women who were recruited during latent phase of their first labor after epidural anesthesia. Patients were grouped according to their preference to receive music intervention or not. The music intervention included two subgroups: soft classical music and rhythmic music. We evaluated cortisol levels in saliva as a surrogate for stress level and State-Trait Personality Inventory at enrollment and 1-3 h later in all women who were still in labor. Delivery and perinatal outcomes were collected from electronic medical records. Correlations between the music intervention and maternal and perinatal outcomes were evaluated.

RESULTS

Spontaneous vaginal delivery was significantly more frequent among women listening to music compared to the non-music group (P = 0.035). A trend towards lower rates of cesarean delivery was noted in the music group (P = 0.08), with no difference in instrumental vaginal delivery rates. Stress levels, as measured by questionnaires and by cortisol levels, blood pressure and pulse rate, remained similar throughout the study. No differences were noted between the different genres of music when examining obstetric and perinatal outcomes and stress levels.

CONCLUSION

Listening to music during labor, improves the likelihood of primiparas to have a vaginal delivery regardless of stress level. As this treatment is simple, easy, and harmless to administer, we suggest it may be offered to all patients during labor.

Could listening to music during pregnancy be protective against postnatal depression and poor wellbeing post birth? Longitudinal associations from a preliminary prospective cohort study

OBJECTIVES

This study explored whether listening to music during pregnancy is longitudinally associated with lower symptoms of postnatal depression and higher well-being in mothers post birth.

DESIGN

Prospective cohort study.

PARTICIPANTS

We analysed data from 395 new mothers aged over 18 who provided data in the third trimester of pregnancy and 3 and 6 months later (0-3 and 4-6 months post birth).

PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES

Postnatal depression was measured using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale, and well-being was measured using the Short Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-being Scale. Our exposure was listening to music and was categorised as 'rarely; a couple of times a week; every day <1 hour; every day 1-2 hours; every day 3-5 hours; every day 5+hrs'. Multivariable linear regression analyses were carried out to explore the effects of listening to music during pregnancy on depression and well-being post birth, adjusted for baseline mental health and potential confounding variables.

RESULTS

Listening during pregnancy is associated with higher levels of well-being (β=0.40, SE=0.15, 95% CI 0.10 to 0.70) and reduced symptoms of postnatal depression (β=-0.39, SE=0.19, 95% CI -0.76 to -0.03) in the first 3 months post birth. However, effects disappear by 4-6 months post birth. These results appear to be particularly found among women with lower levels of well-being and high levels of depression at baseline.

CONCLUSIONS

Listening to music could be recommended as a way of supporting mental health and well-being in pregnant women, in particular those who demonstrate low well-being or symptoms of postnatal depression.

The Manchester Color Wheel: validation in secondary school pupils

BACKGROUND

As part of our research programme into facilitating improved ways of communicating with patients, especially about more sensitive clinical issues, we have been investigating whether there are any non-verbal methods that might aid this process. One such approach is to ask patients to choose a color in response to a particular question, for instance about health or psychological status, and for this purpose we developed the Manchester Color Wheel (MCW). This instrument consists of positive, neutral and negative colors and its validation in normal adults and those with anxiety or depression showed that it is responsive to change and reproducible. It also has the capacity to identify a positive frame of mind. We concluded that it might be a particularly useful instrument in adolescents and therefore this study aimed to validate it in a secondary school.

METHODS

620 pupils (aged 11-17 years, mean age 14.0 years, 298 (48.1%) males, 322 (51.9%) females) at Sale Grammar School in Greater Manchester were asked to relate their mood to a MCW color and also complete the Hospital Anxiety Depression (HAD) questionnaire. To give these pupils an experience in science, 197 were divided into four subgroups for an 'experiment' to ascertain whether, compared to controls, a change in mood color choice could be induced by participation in sport, music or art activities.

RESULTS

Although mood color and HAD depression score are unlikely to be measuring exactly the same psychological state, a negative mood color was chosen by 62.5% of HAD depressed compared to only 14.5% of HAD normal pupils (p < 0.001). In contrast, a positive mood color was chosen by 48.9% of normal and only 18.8% of depressed pupils (p < 0.001). In the 'experiment', compared to controls, all activities resulted in an increased choice of positive mood colors which reached significance for sport and music.

CONCLUSION

This study confirms the potential utility of the MCW to rapidly and easily assess a variety of health issues in large populations, including adolescents. Some of our results should also be of interest to educationalists.

Coping with preoperative anxiety in cesarean section: physiological, cognitive, and emotional effects of listening to favorite music

BACKGROUND

Listening to music has a stress-reducing effect in surgical procedures. The effects of listening to music immediately before a cesarean section have not been studied. The objective of this study was to assess the effects of listening to selected music while waiting for a cesarean section on emotional reactions, on cognitive appraisal of the threat of surgery, and on stress-related physiological reactions.

METHODS

A total of 60 healthy women waiting alone to undergo an elective cesarean section for medical reasons only were randomly assigned either to an experimental or a control group. An hour before surgery they reported mood, and threat perception. Vital signs were assessed by a nurse. The experimental group listened to preselected favorite music for 40 minutes, and the control group waited for the operation without music. At the end of this period, all participants responded to a questionnaire assessing mood and threat perception, and the nurse measured vital signs.

RESULTS

Women who listened to music before a cesarean section had a significant increase in positive emotions and a significant decline in negative emotions and perceived threat of the situation when compared with women in the control group, who exhibited a decline in positive emotions, an increase in the perceived threat of the situation, and had no change in negative emotions. Women who listened to music also exhibited a significant reduction in systolic blood pressure compared with a significant increase in diastolic blood pressure and respiratory rate in the control group.

CONCLUSION

Listening to favorite music immediately before a cesarean section may be a cost-effective, emotion-focused coping strategy. (BIRTH 39:2 June 2012).

Sensory environment on health-related outcomes of hospital patients

BACKGROUND

Hospital environments have recently received renewed interest, with considerable investments into building and renovating healthcare estates. Understanding the effectiveness of environmental interventions is important for resource utilisation and providing quality care.

OBJECTIVES

To assess the effect of hospital environments on adult patient health-related outcomes.

SEARCH METHODS

We searched: the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (last searched January 2006); MEDLINE (1902 to December 2006); EMBASE (January 1980 to February 2006); 14 other databases covering health, psychology, and the built environment; reference lists; and organisation websites. This review is currently being updated (MEDLINE last search October 2010), see Studies awaiting classification.

SELECTION CRITERIA

Randomised and non-randomised controlled trials, controlled before-and-after studies, and interrupted times series of environmental interventions in adult hospital patients reporting health-related outcomes.

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS

Two review authors independently undertook data extraction and 'Risk of bias' assessment. We contacted authors to obtain missing information. For continuous variables, we calculated a mean difference (MD) or standardized mean difference (SMD), and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for each study. For dichotomous variables, we calculated a risk ratio (RR) with 95% confidence intervals (95% CI). When appropriate, we used a random-effects model of meta-analysis. Heterogeneity was explored qualitatively and quantitatively based on risk of bias, case mix, hospital visit characteristics, and country of study.

MAIN RESULTS

Overall, 102 studies have been included in this review. Interventions explored were: 'positive distracters', to include aromas (two studies), audiovisual distractions (five studies), decoration (one study), and music (85 studies); interventions to reduce environmental stressors through physical changes, to include air quality (three studies), bedroom type (one study), flooring (two studies), furniture and furnishings (one study), lighting (one study), and temperature (one study); and multifaceted interventions (two studies). We did not find any studies meeting the inclusion criteria to evaluate: art, access to nature for example, through hospital gardens, atriums, flowers, and plants, ceilings, interventions to reduce hospital noise, patient controls, technologies, way-finding aids, or the provision of windows. Overall, it appears that music may improve patient-reported outcomes such as anxiety; however, the benefit for physiological outcomes, and medication consumption has less support. There are few studies to support or refute the implementation of physical changes, and except for air quality, the included studies demonstrated that physical changes to the hospital environment at least did no harm.

AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS

Music may improve patient-reported outcomes in certain circumstances, so support for this relatively inexpensive intervention may be justified. For some environmental interventions, well designed research studies have yet to take place.

Effects of music therapy on mood in stroke patients

PURPOSE

To investigate the effects of music therapy on depressive mood and anxiety in post-stroke patients and evaluate satisfaction levels of patients and caregivers.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Eighteen post-stroke patients, within six months of onset and mini mental status examination score of over 20, participated in this study. Patients were divided into music and control groups. The experimental group participated in the music therapy program for four weeks. Psychological status was evaluated with the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) before and after music therapy. Satisfaction with music therapy was evaluated by a questionnaire.

RESULTS

BAI and BDI scores showed a greater decrease in the music group than the control group after music therapy, but only the decrease of BDI scores were statistically significant (p=0.048). Music therapy satisfaction in patients and caregivers was affirmative.

CONCLUSION

Music therapy has a positive effect on mood in post-stroke patients and may be beneficial for mood improvement with stroke. These results are encouraging, but further studies are needed in this field.

The effectiveness of music listening in reducing depressive symptoms in adults: a systematic review

OBJECTIVES

We aim to review trials of the effectiveness of music listening in reducing depressive symptoms in adults, and identify areas requiring further study.

BACKGROUND

Little is known about the efficacy of music listening in the mediation of depressive symptoms.

METHODS

We systematically search 9 databases and reviewed 17 studies included randomized controlled and quasi-experimental trails of music listening in reducing depressive symptoms in adults. The Joanna Briggs Institute-Meta Analysis of Statistics Assessment and Review Instrument was used for quality assessment of included studies.

RESULTS

Music listening over a period of time helps to reduce depressive symptoms in the adult population. Daily intervention does not seem to be superior over weekly intervention and it is recommended that music listening session be conducted repeatedly over a time span of more than 3weeks to allow an accumulative effect to occur.

CONCLUSIONS

All types of music can be used as listening material, depending on the preferences of the listener. So, it is recommended that the listeners are given choices over the kind of music which they listen to. There is a need to conduct more studies, which replicate the designs used in the existing studies that met the inclusion criteria, on the level of efficacy of music listening on the reduction of depressive symptoms for a more accurate meta-analysis of the findings and reflect with greater accuracy the significant effects that music has on the level of depressive symptoms.

Effectiveness of music intervention on the quality of life of older people

AIM

This paper is a report of a study of the effect of music on the quality of life of community-dwelling older Chinese people in Hong Kong.

BACKGROUND

Older people's quality of life can be improved by preparing for the transition into old age. Listening to music, as a vehicle for feeling, can facilitate the non-verbal expression of emotion, reaching people's inner feelings without being threatening, and it can be a tool for emotional catharsis.

METHOD

A randomized controlled trial design was conducted from in 2007 in a community centre in Hong Kong. A total of 66 older people (31 in music group and 35 in control group), aged from 65 to 90 years were randomly assigned to undergo either a 30-minute music intervention or a rest period for 4 weeks; quality of life outcomes were then measured.

RESULTS

Quality of life improved weekly in the music group, indicating a cumulative dose effect, and a statistically significantly better quality of life was found over time in each sub-score for those in the music group compared with the controls. However, in the music group, there were no statistically significant improvements of quality of life in each sub-score over the 4 weeks.

CONCLUSION

Being engaged in music activities can help a person to connect with their life experiences and with other people, and to be more stimulated. Music is a non-invasive, simple and inexpensive therapeutic method of improving quality of life in community-dwelling elders.

A systematic review on the effectiveness of music listening in reducing depressive symptoms in adults

BACKGROUND

The use of pharmacotherapy in the treatment of depressive symptoms has its disadvantages, therefore various complementary treatments have been sought and included to reduce depressive symptoms. The use of music as a healing intervention has been well documented throughout history. Even though there are many benefits to the use of music as a potential intervention, little is known about the efficacy of music listening in the mediation of depressive symptoms.

OBJECTIVES

The objective of this review was to determine the effectiveness of music listening in reducing depressive symptoms in adults.

INCLUSION CRITERIA

Types of participants This review included studies on adult men and women (aged 18 years and above) with depression or depressive symptoms.Types of intervention The review focused on studies that investigated music listening as an intervention for depressive symptoms.Types of outcomes The primary outcome measures examined were changes in depressive symptoms as quantified via validated depression scale scores.Types of studies Randomised controlled trials, quasi-experimental studies, interrupted time series (ITSs) and controlled before and after designs were included.

SEARCH STRATEGY

A literature search ranging from the 1989 to January 2010, was conducted using major electronic databases. A three-stage search strategy was utilized in the process of the search to ensure that all studies that met the inclusion criteria were included.

METHODOLOGICAL QUALITY

The quality of the included studies was subjected to assessment by two independent reviewers using the critical appraisal checklists for experimental studies from the JBI-MAStARI (Joanna Briggs Institute-Meta Analysis of Statistics Assessment and Review Instrument).

DATA EXTRACTION/DATA SYNTHESIS

Data were extracted from included papers using the standardized extraction tool from the JBI -MAStARI. Quantitative data were grouped together and combined into a meta-analysis for the assessment of the overall efficacy of an intervention were appropriate. Narrative formats were used when meta-analysis was not appropriate.

CONCLUSIONS

From the overall results, the evidence offers some support that music listening over a period of time helps to reduce depressive symptoms in the adult population.

IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE

IMPLICATIONS FOR RESEARCH: There is a need to conduct more studies, which replicate the designs used in the existing studies that met the inclusion criteria, on the level of efficacy of music listening on the reduction of depressive symptoms for a more accurate meta-analysis of the findings and reflect with greater accuracy the significant effects that music has on the level of depressive symptoms.

Investigating factors associated with depression of older women in Macau

BACKGROUND

Mental health burdens pose a grave threat to quality of life and economic productivity worldwide. Women must balance the economic, emotional and health needs of the household with their own emotional and health needs.

AIMS

The purpose of this study is to explore the depression level of a group of older women in the community in Macau, and to identify factors associated with depression.

DESIGN

A descriptive survey.

RESEARCH METHOD

The survey was conducted during the period July and August 2004 in six parishes in Macau; 1042 older people aged 60-98 completed a structured questionnaire.

OUTCOME MEASURES

Four main outcome variables were employed in the study: predisposing characteristics, physical, psychosocial and health needs/behaviours outcomes.

RESULTS

Among the women, 11.9% (n = 124) had been identified as depressed. Multiple logistic regression analyses were used to identify a model to predict older women who will have depression. The results showed that variables like having hypertension (p = 0.010), a poor social network (p < 0.001), low self-perceived scores on health status (p < 0.001) and ability to meet living costs (p < 0.001), and a low level of ability to do housework (p < 0.001) were significant risk factors for depression.

CONCLUSION

Providing a suitable living environment and improving health conditions for older people may improve depressive symptoms, and maintaining their cognitive function and improving their functional abilities may be crucial for preventing suffering from depressive symptoms. Apart from the findings, these conclusions resonate with recent Macau guidance on managing depression in older women. This stresses the importance of prevention, early detection and stepped care, with more intensive treatment for greater severity of illness and a multifaceted approach to management.

RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE

It is important to regularly screen for depressive symptoms among older women in the community. Focusing on older women with increasing physical disability and social isolation should help in both the prevention and recognition of onset of depression. Light therapy and antidepressants were suggested and providing a suitable living environment and improving health conditions for older people may improve depressive symptoms; maintaining their cognitive function and improving their functional abilities may be crucial for preventing suffering from depressive symptoms.

Effect of music on depression levels and physiological responses in community-based older adults

Many people over the age of 65 do not regard depression as a treatable mental disorder and find it difficult to express themselves verbally. Listening to music can facilitate the non-verbal expression of emotion and allow people's inner feelings to be expressed without being threatened. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of music on depression levels in elderly people. A randomized controlled study was conducted with 47 elderly people (23 using music and 24 controls) who completed the study after being recruited in Hong Kong. Blood pressure, heart rate (HR), respiratory rate (RR), and depression level variables were collected. In the music group, there were statistically-significant decreases in depression scores (P < 0.001) and blood pressure (P = 0.001), HR (P < 0.001), and RR (P < 0.001) after 1 month. The implication is that nurses may utilize music as an effective nursing intervention for patients with depressive symptoms in the community setting.

Investigating the health profile of Macau Chinese

AIM

To identify the health profile of a group of older people in Macau.

BACKGROUND

People were concerned about their current health status, and Macau people are placing increasing importance on their health.

METHODS

A descriptive survey was conducted during the period July and August 2004 in six parishes in Macau; 1836 older people aged 60-98 completed a structured questionnaire.

RESULTS

Cluster analysis revealed three profiles within five main factors: physical, functional, mental, social and nutritional, and demographic.

CONCLUSIONS

Our data describing older people's health status can be structured into a profile reflecting the characteristics of the population under study. Healthcare professionals will be able to apply these health profiles to develop interventions that improve this population's health and daily functioning, and broaden their social network.

RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE

The findings will assist healthcare professionals or nurse practitioners by creating health profiles that they can use to develop interventions to improve the health of older Chinese in Macau.

Music therapy for depression

BACKGROUND

Depression is a highly prevalent disorder associated with reduced social functioning, impaired quality of life, and increased mortality. Music therapy has been used in the treatment of a variety of mental disorders, but its impact on those with depression is unclear.

OBJECTIVES

To examine the efficacy of music therapy with standard care compared to standard care alone among people with depression and to compare the effects of music therapy for people with depression against other psychological or pharmacological therapies.

SEARCH STRATEGY

CCDANCTR-Studies and CCDANCTR-References were searched on 7/11/2007, MEDLINE, PsycINFO, EMBASE, PsycLit, PSYindex, and other relevant sites were searched in November 2006. Reference lists of retrieved articles were hand searched, as well as specialist music and arts therapies journals.

SELECTION CRITERIA

All randomised controlled trials comparing music therapy with standard care or other interventions for depression.

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS

Data on participants, interventions and outcomes were extracted and entered onto a database independently by two review authors. The methodological quality of each study was also assessed independently by two review authors. The primary outcome was reduction in symptoms of depression, based on a continuous scale.

MAIN RESULTS

Five studies met the inclusion criteria of the review. Marked variations in the interventions offered and the populations studied meant that meta-analysis was not appropriate. Four of the five studies individually reported greater reduction in symptoms of depression among those randomised to music therapy than to those in standard care conditions. The fifth study, in which music therapy was used as an active control treatment, reported no significant change in mental state for music therapy compared with standard care. Dropout rates from music therapy conditions appeared to be low in all studies.

AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS

Findings from individual randomised trials suggest that music therapy is accepted by people with depression and is associated with improvements in mood. However, the small number and low methodological quality of studies mean that it is not possible to be confident about its effectiveness. High quality trials evaluating the effects of music therapy on depression are required.

The effect of harp music on heart rate, mean blood pressure, respiratory rate, and body temperature in the African green monkey

BACKGROUND

The effectiveness of recorded harp music as a tool for relaxation for non-human primates is explored in this study.

METHODS

Konigsberg Instruments Model T27F-1B cardiovascular telemetry devices were implanted into nine African green monkeys (Chlorocebus aethiops). After post-surgical recovery, animals were exposed to recorded harp music. Telemetry data were collected on heart rate, mean blood pressure, respiratory rate, and body temperature for a 30-minute baseline period before music exposure; a 90-minute period of music exposure; and a 90-minute post-exposure period, where no music was played.

RESULTS

No statistical differences were noted in heart rate, mean blood pressure, respiratory rate, and body temperature between pre-exposure, exposure, and post-exposure periods.

CONCLUSIONS

The lack of response in these African green monkeys may be attributable to their generally calm demeanor in captivity; experiments with a more excitable species such as the rhesus macaque might demonstrate a significant relaxation response to music.

Depressive symptoms among older residents at nursing homes in Taiwan

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

To examine the depressive symptoms of older residents at nursing homes and the relationship between their depressive symptoms and certain selected variables.

BACKGROUND

Depression has become a major healthcare concern among the older people, but nursing home-based studies on risk factors of depression have still hardly been well performed in Taiwan.

DESIGN

A cross-sectional design was developed and implemented.

METHODS

A research sample of 138 older residents was recruited from eight nursing homes located in southern Taiwan. During face-to-face interviews, the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale, Social Support Scale, Chronic Condition Checklist and Socio-demographic Inventory were used for data collection.

RESULTS

The results showed that 81.8% of those residents were identified as being depressed. It was further discovered that the length of residency, number of chronic conditions, perceived health status and the amount of social support from their family and relatives could explain 38.8% of the total variances in depressive symptoms.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study suggests that, in Taiwan, older people who live in nursing homes suffer from more depressive symptoms than those in community dwellings. To maintain and improve the health status for the elderly as much as possible, it is suggested that healthcare providers at nursing homes should develop an effective health promotion program for these older peoples.

RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE

There exists a high rate of depressive symptoms among older residents at nursing homes. It is imperative that a proper identification and its correspondent treatment for this health problem on the older residents are required. In late life, to maintain a higher level of quality of life, it is important to suggest that the health providers should regularly screen older people to increase the likelihood of diagnosis and improved treatment of late-life depressive symptoms.

Effects of music on major depression in psychiatric inpatients

The study was to assess the effectiveness of soft music for treatment of major depressive disorder inpatients in Kaohsiung City, Taiwan. A pretest-posttest with a two-group repeated measures design was used. Patients with major depressive disorder were recruited through referred by the psychiatric physicians. Subjects listened to their choice of music for 2 weeks. Depression was measured with the Zung's Depression Scale before the study and at two weekly posttests. Using repeated measures ANCOVA, music resulted in significantly better depressive scores, as well as significantly better subscores of depression compared with controls. Depression improved weekly, indicating a cumulative dose effect. The findings provide evidence for psychiatric nurses to use soft music as an empirically based intervention for depressed inpatients.

Music effects on EEG in intrusive and withdrawn mothers with depressive symptoms

The EEG patterns of 48 intrusive and withdrawn mothers with depressive symptoms were assessed following a 20-minute music session to determine if the music had mood-altering effects. Half the mothers listened to classical music while half listened to rock music. Intrusive mothers were expected to have more positive responses and more symmetrical EEG following the calming classical music, while withdrawn mothers were expected to have a more positive response and symmetrical EEG following the energizing rock music. Although more positive EEGs were noted for rock music in both groups, only the withdrawn mothers showed a significant change in EEG toward symmetry following rock music, and only the intrusive mothers showed a decrease in cortisol levels following the rock music. Their State Anxiety Inventory (STAI) anxiety levels also decreased, while the Profile of Mood States (POMS) depressed mood levels decreased significantly for all four groups following music.

Effectiveness of complementary and self-help treatments for depression

OBJECTIVES

To review the evidence for the effectiveness of complementary and self-help treatments for depression.

DATA SOURCES

Systematic literature search using PubMed, PsycLit, the Cochrane Library and previous review papers.

DATA SYNTHESIS

Thirty-seven treatments were identified and grouped under the categories of medicines, physical treatments, lifestyle, and dietary changes. We give a description of each treatment, the rationale behind the treatment, a review of studies on effectiveness, and the level of evidence for the effectiveness studies.

RESULTS

The treatments with the best evidence of effectiveness are St John's wort, exercise, bibliotherapy involving cognitive behaviour therapy and light therapy (for winter depression). There is some limited evidence to support the effectiveness of acupuncture, light therapy (for non-seasonal depression), massage therapy, negative air ionisation (for winter depression), relaxation therapy, S-adenosylmethionine, folate and yoga breathing exercises.

CONCLUSION

Although none of the treatments reviewed is as well supported by evidence as standard treatments such as antidepressants and cognitive behaviour therapy, many warrant further research.

Use of Music Therapy and Other ITNIs in Acute Care

The purpose of this descriptive study was to examine the clinical use of music therapy as an independent therapeutic nursing intervention (ITNI) in acute inpatient settings. This study identified the frequency, rationale, and perceived effectiveness of its use as an ITNI. In addition, barriers and facilitators to nurses' use of music therapy were identified. Frequency of use of other ITNIs also were investigated. An author-designed questionnaire, based on the literature and reviewed by a panel of experts, was used to survey a convenience sample (N = 321) of RNs at an acute inpatient facility with more than 50 beds, located in the midwestern United States. One hundred thirty-five RNs (42%) participated in the study. Findings indicated that 85.2% (n = 115) of respondents knew of music therapy, with 69.6% (n = 94) of them reporting using it in practice. Of the other listed ITNIs, deep breathing was used most frequently, followed by therapeutic touch and massage. Music therapy was used most commonly to reduce anxiety and was ranked as the ITNI used most often to enhance sleep and decrease distraction, agitation, aggression, and depression. Psychiatry/chemical dependency and intensive care units had the highest incidence of use of music therapy. The ranking of barriers and facilitators identified the strongest barrier as not having time to help patients with music therapy, whereas the strongest facilitator was nurses' comfort with the idea of using music therapy. This research begins to fill an information gap about the frequency, purpose, and perceived effectiveness of use of ITNIs. The use of ITNIs can increase patient comfort and facilitate conservation of energy, which aids healing processes, as described in Levine's Conservation Model. Use of ITNIs also can empower nurses and facilitate their control over nursing practice. This study indicates that nurses need further education on the use of music therapy and other ITNIs.