Date of Award
Fall 1981
Document Type
Thesis - Restricted
Degree Name
Master of Science (MS)
Department
Nursing
First Advisor
Fehring, Richard J.
Second Advisor
Siegel, Hildegarde
Third Advisor
Ryan, Polly
Abstract
This study was designed to measure the effect of music on fatigue of myocardial revascularization patients in the intensive care unit. The research hypotheses were that the use of music would decrease both psychological and physiological fatigue levels of myocardial revascularization patients as compared to those patients who did not listen to music in the intensive care unit. Forty male and female patients who were scheduled to undergo their first coronary artery bypass surgery, were randomly assigned to one of two groups, music and no music, with twenty participants in each group. The first group listened to prerecorded relaxation music via headphones for two daily fifteen to thirty minute sessions, once in the morning and once in the evening, while staying in the intensive care unit. The second group received no relaxation music. For all participants as a measure of fatigue, the average of four sets of vital signs were recorded, including brachial blood pressure (systolic and diastolic), and apical heart rate. Participants also completed a ten-item paper and pencil Pearson-Byars Fatigue Feeling Questionnaire, both preoperatively and postoperatively, upon discharge to the intermediate care floors. Additional fatigue-related variables were recorded to establish greater control within the study. A significance level of p < 0.05 was necessary for the two research hypotheses to be supported statistically. Throughout the six-week period of data collection, the participants who listened to music during their recovery in the intensive care unit, did not demonstrate statistically significant decreases in fatigue, psychologically or physiologically. Postoperative psychological fatigue scores were consistently increased for all forty participants when compared with preoperative scores. Although both hypotheses were not supported, with the sample size small, and the duration of the study short, sufficient justification for further study in this area is evident.
Recommended Citation
Luettgen, Mary L., "The Effect of Music on Fatigue Levels of Myocardial Revascularization Patients in the Intensive Care Unit" (1981). Master's Theses (1922-2009) Access restricted to Marquette Campus. 3425.
https://epublications.marquette.edu/theses/3425