The Effect of Music Therapy and Breathing Exercise on Anxiety and Pain in Patients Undergoing Coronary Angiography

Breathing exercises and music therapy have been demonstrated to be used in managing anxiety and pain in many clinical conditions, only a few studies have investigated their effectiveness on anxiety and pain during coronary angiography. Pain and anxiety are commonly experienced symptoms during coronary angiography. Therefore, the objective of this study is to examine the effects of the music and breathing exercises on anxiety and pain in patients undergoing coronary angiography.

Design This single-center, single-blind, randomized controlled trial was conducted in Izmir, Turkey, from July 2021 to July 2022. Participants were randomly assigned to one of three groups: intervention 1 (music), intervention 2 (breathing exercises), or control (standard care), in a 1:1:1 ratio. The study received approval from the Ethics Review Committee of a university hospital, and written informed consent was obtained from each participant.

Sample The participants were selected by the researcher from patients who were scheduled to undergo coronary angiography at the Cardiology clinic of a university hospital. Patients were included in the study if they met the following criteria: being scheduled for their first coronary angiography, being above 18 years of age, not being dependent on drugs or alcohol, having orientation to time and place, not experiencing respiratory distress, not having a history of serious psychological problems in the past 6 months, not taking any medication that suppresses anxiety symptoms and pain, and consenting to participate in the study. Patients who did not like music due to cultural reasons, stents implanted during angioplasty, required urgent treatment for the management of cardiac arrhythmias, had hearing problems, or had difficulty performing breathing exercises were excluded.

The sample size was calculated based on previous research on the effects of coronary angiography on pain and anxiety as well as our pilot study. We aimed to have a sufficient sample size to detect a difference of 2 units (mean ± SD) in pain levels between the intervention and control groups. 165 subjects were targeted for this study.

2.3. Randomization Eligible participants were randomly assigned to either the intervention groups or control group in a 1:1 ratio using a permuted block randomization method with a block size of 6. A random allocation sequence was generated by an off-site statistician who was not involved in participant recruitment. Allocation concealment was ensured by employing sealed opaque envelopes containing sequence numbers.

Intervention Breathing Group

Individuals in the breathing exercise group were made to do breathing exercises by the researcher in the patient room 30 minutes before coronary angiography. The exercises were performed in a single patient room, in a quiet and calm environment. During the first 5 minutes, the researcher explained how the exercise was done with pictures and showed it to the patient. The patient was then asked to do the exercise for 10 minutes under the supervision of the researcher. If the patient performed the Deep Breathing Exercise correctly, the application was terminated. If unable, the patient was asked to practice for another 5 minutes. If the patient still could not perform the exercise correctly after this period, he was excluded from the sample. Deep Breathing Exercise was applied according to the Cleveland Clinic Guideline. The Cleveland Clinic guide showed how to do the Deep Breathing Exercise with the knee bent. The following protocol was followed in the breathing exercise:

1. Ensure the patient is comfortably seated with bent knees, and relax the shoulders, head, and neck.
2. Place one hand on the upper chest and the other below the rib cage to enable the patient to sense diaphragm movement.
3. Initiate slow inhalation through the nose, allowing the abdominal region to expand outward.
4. Maintain stability in the hand on the chest to minimize movement.
5. Tighten the stomach muscles and exhale through pursed lips, facilitating the inward movement of the abdominal area.
6. Keep the hand on the upper chest as stable as possible throughout the process.

Music Group After the patient was admitted to the angiography laboratory, approximately 10 minutes before the angiography procedure commenced, they were seated and allowed to relax. Music was played using a digital MP3 player. The music was compiled from Johann Sebastian Bach's light instrumental music albums. Previous studies have demonstrated that this album has a positive impact on the cardiovascular system. The duration of music listening ranged from 20 to 40 minutes depending on the length of the procedure. Since the patient could be given coughing instructions during the procedure, headphones could not be used. Individuals lying on the bed in the angiography room were instructed to assume a comfortable position and focus on the music.

Control Group All data collection steps were applied identically to the control group patients, except for music application and deep breathing exercises. All patients in the study group received the same routine care.

Instruments Demographic variables and health characteristics of participants Demographic variables, such as age, education, marital status, and health characteristics (presence of chronic illnesses, coping mechanisms for stress, previous surgery history) were collected using a structured questionnaire.

State-Trait Anxiety Inventory State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), originally developed by Spielberg et al. to assess state and trait anxiety levels separately, has been adapted into the Turkish language by Öner and Le Compte. Validation and reliability studies for the Turkish version have been conducted, confirming its robustness. The scale consists of 40 items, with 20 items measuring state anxiety and 20 items measuring trait anxiety. Respondents were instructed to choose the response that best fits each item on the scale: "almost never," "sometimes," "often," or "almost always." Higher scores on the scale indicate greater levels of anxiety.

Visual Analog Scale It is a scale used to assess pain intensity. Visual Analog Scale (VAS) is stated to be more sensitive and reliable in measuring pain intensity compared to other single-dimensional scales. The VAS is a 10 cm ruler that can be used horizontally and vertically, with "0" representing no pain at one end and "10" representing the most severe pain at the other end. The patient marks the level of pain intensity they are experiencing on this ruler. Pain severity scores were measured in millimetres.

Outcome measures The primary outcome measurement is the patients' pain and anxiety levels. Individuals were assigned to the study groups after being informed about the research and obtaining their written consent. Initially, basic patient information was collected and recorded on the "Patient Identification Form". Subsequently, individuals were provided with information on the use of the VAS and the angiography procedure. Following this, individuals were assessed using the STAI. Afterwards, patients were taken to the angiography laboratory. Immediately after the angiography procedure was completed, the individuals' pain levels were evaluated and documented using the VAS. Thirty minutes after the angiography procedure was completed, individuals underwent an assessment using the STAI. All of these measurements were conducted by a nurse who was not part of the research team.