A TRIAL of the use of music playlists in hospital A&E wards was found to have a calming effect on almost all elderly dementia patients in a trial.
In an eight-week project carried out by NHS Fife, an MP3 player was loaded with songs from a variety of genres and given to patients displaying stress and agitation, along with headphones or mini speakers.
Researchers found the use of music as a diversion technique significantly reduced levels of agitation and led to them becoming markedly less stressed during clinical procedures in 96% of cases. Now the technique has been introduced in post-theatre recovery and wards with elderly patients after the success of the trial, carried out in conjunction with music and dementia charity Playlist For Life.
Helen Skinner, an Alzheimer Scotland dementia nurse consultant, said: “Patients can be distressed when they come to A&E and we initially try to deal with that distress non-pharmacologically. We’ve found the use of music has been hugely beneficial.”
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