Zavotsky, K.E., Banavage, A., James, P., Easter, K., Pontieri-Lewis, V., & Lutwin, L. (2014). The effects of music on pain and anxiety during screening mammography. Clinical Journal of Oncology Nursing, 18, E45–E49.

To test whether women who listened to music during screening mammography report lower levels of pain and anxiety than women who did not listen to music

On three days of the week, patients listened to music during screening mammorgraphy, and on two days of the week, music was not provided. An MP3 player was preloaded with various types of music. Patients who were part of the music group were asked to select the music of their choice. Patients rated pain and anxiety immediately after completing the mammography.

• N = 100
• MEAN AGE = 54.1 years
• FEMALES: 100%
• KEY DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Most were Caucasian. About 45% had had 13 or more previous mammographies.
   

• SITE: Multi-site 
• SETTING TYPE: Outpatient 
• LOCATION: United States

• PHASE OF CARE: Diagnostic

• Non-random, two-group comparison

• 10-point Likert-type scale for pain and anxiety

No significant differences in pain or anxiety were seen between groups.

This study did not show an effect of listening to music during mammography on pain or anxiety.

• Risk of bias (no blinding)
• Risk of bias (no random assignment)
• Measurement validity/reliability questionable
• No baseline anxiety measures—if patients were not anxious to begin with, they unlikely would have a result.

This study did not show an effect of listening to music during screening mammography, but evidence has shown effectiveness of music in reducing anxiety during invasive procedures. Listening to music during mammography is a low-cost and low-risk intervention that may be helpful to some patients. This study had multiple limitations.