Assessing Provider Adherence to Music Therapy in Parturients Undergoing Awake Cesarean Section: A Quality Improvement Project

Low patient satisfaction with cesarean section (C/S) birth is a widely documented phenomenon which carries substantial risk for compromised health. Music therapy is a technique that can reduce stress and improve satisfaction when applied intraoperatively. Methods: The Kosucu et al. (2017) survey instrument was adapted for the research. The survey was administered pre- and post- intervention of an educational offering. Data was collected on the presumed impact of music therapy on patient mood, stress, anxiety, and pain and on practitioner implementation of music therapy. Results: A paired sample t test showed a statistically significant increase in the practitioner’s presumption of positive impact on mood, stress, anxiety, and pain between the pre and post survey scores. The paired sample t test showed no statistically significant increase in the practitioner’s adherence to music therapy between the pre and post survey scores. Discussion: The results of this study indicate a clear statistical correlation between music therapy education and presumptive positive impact of music therapy on mood, stress, anxiety, and pain. The study also cites reasons for not implementing music therapy. These include lack of time; concerns about increased workload; and lack of institutional support. Music therapy represents a low cost, low risk method of improving patient outcomes. Therefore, additional study is warranted with respect to effective educational techniques, institutional attitudes, and removing obstacles to implementation in the operating environment.