Systematic Review of the Effect of Music Therapy and/or the Use of Music to Preterm Neonates

Background: In recent years more and more premature babies are born who are hospitalized mainly in Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICU). Nurses and music therapists have used several alternative treatments for enhancing the quality of life of premature babies. One of these is the music therapy and/or the use of music, with varied results. Aim: The purpose of this literature review was to evaluate studies that examined the effect of music therapy and/or use of music on physiological and psycho-emotional outcomes in NICU. Method: A literature search was performed in the PubMed and Cinahl databases, for the period January 2004 to December 2014 using as keywords (Mesh terms) :“music therapy” or “lullabies” or “music” or “music listening” AND “neonatal intensive care unit” or “NICU AND “premature infants” or “preterm infant”. Fifteen studies resulted from the search, but on the whole, seven were included in the systematic review. Results: All of the studies included were randomized clinical trials conducted by nurses, doctors and music therapists. Most researchers used recorded music. The main findings of the study was a reduction of the heart and respiratory rate, increased oxygen saturation, body weight improvement, reduction in duration of crying and hospitalization and increased quality of sleep. None of the investigations showed any adverse effects from the music. Conclusions: The use of music as a non-pharmacological method of treatment appears to have positive effects in newborns. However, it should be used with caution by appropriately trained personnel who are aware of recent guidelines for music in preterm newborns and be alert for signs of over stimulation.