Music in MRI

  • Research type

    Research Study

  • Full title

    The impacts of MRI sound environment in a clinical setting

  • IRAS ID

    135925

  • Contact name

    GD Charles-Edwards

  • Contact email

    geoff.charlesedwards@kcl.ac.uk

  • Sponsor organisation

    Guy's & St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust

  • Research summary

    Music is used increasingly in all kinds of clinical environments to aid patient relaxation and improve perception of care quality. The presence of music has been found to have multiple secondary mental and physical benefits , including lowered anxiety, improved speed and effectiveness of procedures, and minimized discomfort and boredom

    Studies have shown that the presence of music can improve the quality of patient and technician based outcomes of MRI scans compared to silence (Slifer et al., 1991; Wallworth, 2010) However no research to date has examined the impact of allowing patients to choose their own music in MRI, despite the fact that patient choice is a leading source of positive outcomes in music therapy and medicine studies. The present study will explore whether music in general, and specifically patient selected music, results in better MRI scanner outcomes compared to silence.

    References
    Slifer, et al. (1991) Music enhances patients’ comfort during MR imaging. AJR Am J Roentgenol.156(2):403.
    Walworth, D.D. (2010) Effect of live music therapy for patients undergoing magnetic resonance imaging. J Music Ther. 47(4):335-50.

  • REC name

    East Midlands - Leicester South Research Ethics Committee

  • REC reference

    13/EM/0367

  • Date of REC Opinion

    24 Oct 2013

  • REC opinion

    Further Information Favourable Opinion