ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of music therapy on anxiety of patients in emergency room. METHODS: The study was designed using a noneqivalent control group nonsynchronized design. For 20 minutes, the experimental group(22 patients) had listened to music and the control group(23 patients) had bed rest. A six-item state anxiety scale developed by Marteau and Bekker, which was based on Spielberger's State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, blood pressure and pulse rate were measured to all study participants before and after the intervention. The data was analyzed by the SPSS 12.0 program. RESULTS: 1) The experimental group's state anxiety level were significantly lower than the control group's(t=2.220, p=.032). 2) There were no significant differences in both group's diastolic(t=-.495, p=.623) and systolic blood pressure(t=831, p=.411). 3) The experimental group's pulse rate was significantly lower than the control group's(t=2.363, p=.023). CONCLUSION: Music therapy may be applied as a nursing intervention to decrease anxiety in emergency room.