Abstract

PURPOSE
This study examined the effect of music therapy on the pre-exam anxiety of gastroscopy clients.
METHOD
The research period is from June 17 2002 to August 30 2002, and the subjects were 60 individuals, 30 for the experimental and 30 for the control group among adult clients. The data were analyzed by using the SPSS program.
RESULT
The results of this study were as follows: The score of the experimental group was lower than the score of the control group for the situational anxiety (t=-12.56, p=0.000) and systolic blood pressure (t=-3.97, p=0.000) before the examination was supported. The vital sign was partially supported. There was no significant difference(t=-1.05, p=0.297) in the diastolic blood pressure (t=-1.05, p=0.297) and pulse rate(t=-1.30, p=0.199) before the examination of the experimental group and lower than the score of the control group.
CONCLUSION
Music therapy could be useful in the nursing practice, and be utilized as a way of nursing intervention to reduce anxiety of the patients in specific clinical situations. Finally, it is recommended that further studies be conducted on this therapy by utilizing different musical selections.

• Keywords: Music therapy; Anxiety; Gastroscopy