The effect of lullaby played to preterm infants in neonatal intensive care units on physiological parameters and pain

Abstract

Purpose: The study was conducted as a randomized controlled experimental study to investigate the effects of music therapy application on physiological parameters and pain in preterm infants. Materials and methods: Preterm newborns included in the study were divided into 3 groups. The first group is experiment I, in which lullabies sung by the babies' own mothers were recorded and played. The second group is experiment II, where lullabies recorded with a standard female vocal for babies are played. The third group is the Control group in which no intervention is applied to the babies. The heart rate and respiratory rate, oxygen saturation level (SpO2) values and pain scores of the groups were measured and compared at different times. Results: Lullaby exposure did not yield significant differences between groups in terms of physiological parameters and pain scores. However, statistical significance was observed in the post-lullaby heart rate, respiratory rate, oxygen saturation level, and pain scores of infants in the experimental group (p < 0.05). Significance was consistent across all measurements taken 15 min after the IV intervention. Conclusion: Listening to lullabies has beneficial effects on physiological parameters and pain reduction in preterm infants. Integrating lullaby exposure into the regular supportive care of neonatal intensive care unit infants, conducting further studies with more diverse sample groups, and exploring various types of lullabies and music are recommended. Practice implications: Lullaby during invasive procedures may reduce pain and improve physiologic symptoms in preterm infants. Our findings support the integration of lullabies into the daily supportive care of preterm infants. (c) 2024 Elsevier Inc. All rights are reserved, including those for text and data mining, AI training, and similar technologies.