Preferred music lowers anxiety levels and pain perception while promoting patient satisfaction in women undergoing ultrasound-guided breast biopsy: randomized controlled study.

Background: Image-guided breast biopsies are well accepted, yet stressful procedures for patients in radiology clinics.

Purpose: To investigate the effect of music on anxiety, pain, and patient satisfaction related to a breast biopsy session.

Material And Methods: After approval of institutional review board and giving informed consent, 93 women scheduled for ultrasound-guided breast biopsy or stereotactic wire localization were prospectively enrolled in this randomized controlled study. Patients were referred into two groups either listening to music of their own choice from three options of genre list during the procedure or not. Immediately before and after the biopsy session, participants were asked to complete questionnaires for measuring anxiety (State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, Beck Anxiety Inventory), pain, and patient satisfaction (visual analog scale). Sociodemographic data were described, and the duration was noted at the end. Statistical analysis was made using paired samples t-test, chi-square test, independent samples t-test, and Mann-Whitney test.

Results: Except for the duration, demographic characteristics were statistically similar between the two groups. Trait and preprocedural state anxiety scores did not have significant difference between the groups. Both groups showed lowered state anxiety values after the biopsy ( < 0.05) and there was statistically significant reduction in state anxiety levels of music group (10.35 ± 7.5 music vs. 7 ± 7.98 control;  = 0.024). Pain perception was fewer ( < 0.05) and patient satisfaction was greater ( < 0.05) through the implementation of music.

Conclusion: Music intervention reduces anxiety and pain and thereby increases patient satisfaction during ultrasound-guided breast biopsies.