The Listening to music tuned to 440 Hz versus 432 Hz to reduce anxiety and stress in emergency nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic: a double-blind, randomized controlled pilot study.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Healthcare providers in the emergency first response units have been exposed to a considerable stress during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. This study was designed to identify the effects of listening to music during the work break compared to the routine break (in the absence of listening to music) on the level of state anxiety and on the vital parameters of the nurses on duty at the operations center. METHODS: Randomized, controlled, three-arm, double-blind, single-center clinical study. Healthcare providers were divided into three groups according to study intervention (Group 1: listening to 440Hz music; Group 2: listening to 432Hz music; Group 3: liberal activity). The study was conducted during the working hours of dayshifts in an emergency first response unit station located in Tuscany, Italy. Outcomes were measured against measures of stress (State-Trait Anxiety Inventory - STAIX1), heart rate (HR), respiratory rate (RR), systolic/diastolic blood pressure (SBP/DBP), pain and productivity (Likert Scale) measured at baseline (T0) and at the end of exposure (T1). RESULTS: Overall, 54 healthcare providers were enrolled; 32 females (59.3%); mean age of 39.64 years (SD±9.94); the total measurements performed were 83. The median values of STAI X1 decreased in all the 3 groups from T0 to T1 (Group 1: 34.5 vs. 32, p=0.0001; Group 2: 34 vs. 29, p=0.001; Group 3: 33 vs. 31, p=0.028). In Group 2 a reduction of mean values of respiratory rate and systolic blood pressure was recorded at T1 (-2.714 b/min, p=0.000 and -3.821 mmHg, p=0.031, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Listening to music at 432 Hz is a low cost and short intervention that can be a useful resource to manage anxiety and stress. Further studies are needed to assess medium and long-term effects of listening to music.

Music tuned to 432 Hz versus music tuned to 440 Hz for improving sleep in patients with spinal cord injuries: a double-blind cross-over pilot study.

BACKGROUND AND AIM OF THE WORK: Among people with spinal cord injuries, sleep disorders are considered one of the top well-being priorities. Some studies suggest that listening to music promotes sleep and improves its quality. These studies usually used music standardised at the frequency of 440 Hz. The aim of the present study is to compare the effects of listening to music tuned to 440 Hz and music tuned to 432 Hz on sleep in patients with spinal cord injuries. METHODS: Double-blind cross-over pilot study in a single Italian Spinal Unit. 12 patients with spinal injuries were provided with mp3 players loaded with their favourite music tuned to 440 Hz or 432 Hz. They were invited to listen to music for 30 minutes each day, in the two periods of the study. "Sleep Scale for Medical Study" modified for this study, and the "Perceived Stress Scale" were chosen. RESULTS: The participants were eight males (mean age =58.12, SD ±13.62), and four females (mean age =56.25, SD ±14.17). Five were quadriplegics and seven were paraplegics. Listening times and wash-out periods were variable. The stress decreased, but not significantly, with listening to music at both frequencies. After listening to music at 432 Hz there was a significant improvement in sleep scores (+3.6, p=0.02), while there was no improvement in sleep scores listening to music at 440 Hz (-1.50, p=0.34). CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that further studies on music interventions at 432 Hz should be performed. It is advisable to increase sample sizes and use a range of different research methods.

Music Tuned to 440 Hz Versus 432 Hz and the Health Effects: A Double-blind Cross-over Pilot Study.

CONTEXT: The current reference frequency for tuning musical instruments is 440 Hz. Some theorists and musicians claim that the 432 Hz tuning has better effects on the human body, but there are no scientific studies that support this hypothesis. OBJECTIVE: To identify differences in vital parameters and perceptions after listening to music at different frequencies, 440 Hz versus 432 Hz. DESIGN: Cross-over pilot study. SETTING: A room dedicated to listening to music, in an Italian city. PARTICIPANTS: 33 volunteers, not suffering from acute and/or chronic diseases. INTERVENTIONS: Two sessions of music listening on different days. Both sessions used the same music (movie soundtracks) but tuned to 440 Hz on one day and 432 Hz on the other. Each session consisted of 20 min' listening. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Vital parameters (blood pressure, heart rate, respiratory rate, oxygen saturation), perceptions (physical and emotional sensations, for example fatigue and stress), levels of concentration during the listening session, and general satisfaction with the experience. RESULTS: 432 Hz tuned music was associated with a slight decrease of mean (systolic and diastolic) blood pressure values (although not significant), a marked decrease in the mean of heart rate (-4.79 bpm, p = 0.05) and a slight decrease of the mean respiratory rate values (1 r.a., p = 0.06), compared to 440 Hz. The subjects were more focused about listening to music and more generally satisfied after the sessions in which they listened to 432 Hz tuned music. CONCLUSIONS: The data suggests that 432 Hz tuned music can decrease heart rate more than 440 Hz tuned music. The study results suggest repeating the experiment with a larger sample pool and introducing randomized controlled trials covering more clinical parameters.