Music helps children cope with pain

Evidence is accumulating that music decreases children’s perceived sense of pain following findings from the University of Alberta, Canada.

A total of 42 children aged 3 years to 11 years who were brought to an emergency department of a hospital and needed an IV were split into two groups. Some listened to music and some did not.

Children who listened to music reported significantly less pain, some demonstrated significantly less distress, and the children’s parents were more satisfied with care.

And it was easier to administer the IVs in the music group than it was to children not listening to music.

“We did find a difference in the children’s reported pain – the children in the music group had less pain immediately after the procedure,” says Lisa Hartling who led the study. “The finding is clinically important and it’s a simple intervention that can make a big difference. Playing music for kids during painful medical procedures would be an inexpensive and easy-to-use intervention in clinical settings.”