S Mounier et al. J Pediatr 2024: 264: 113736. Music Therapy During Basic Daily Care in Critically Ill Children: A Randomized Crossover Clinical Trial

In this cross-over randomized controlled study with 50 children (median age 3.5 yrs), the authors assessed whether music therapy (MT) is effective to reduce pain during daily personal hygiene care (DPHC). The primary outcome was variation of the Face Legs Activity Cry Consolability (FLACC) score (range, 0-10). Key findings:

• FLACC score was 0.0 (0.0-3.0) at baseline and 3.0 (1.0-5.5) during DPHC. With MT, these values were, respectively, 0.0 (0.0-1.0) and 2.0 (0.5-4.0).
• Rates of FLACC scores of >4 during DPHC, which indicates severe pain, were 42% in standard conditions and 17% with MT (P = .013).

In their background, the authors note that MT “provides feelings of well-being and relaxation and acts as a distractor, leading to the inhibition of pain perception.”

My take: This study reinforces the importance of distraction to reduce pain. Life is better and less painful with music.

Of course, the scene from “Airplane!” shows that not all music therapy is beneficial: Clumsy Stewardess and Near Death Experience