The Healing Power of Music in Hospital Settings

Music is more than entertainment. In hospital settings, it is increasingly recognised as a powerful therapeutic tool that can improve patient well‑being, reduce pain and anxiety, and enhance recovery. Drawing on recent research, case studies, and existing hospital programmes, this article explores how music benefits hospitalised individuals: what is known, how it works, where the gaps are, and what future directions might be.

Doing our part to relieve the burden

Entering a hospital can be stressful: unfamiliar surroundings, painful procedures, separation from home, disruption of routine, anxiety over diagnoses and prognosis. For many patients, the experience includes physical discomfort, emotional distress, fear, and sometimes a feeling of isolation.

Traditionally, medical interventions focus on pharmaceuticals, surgery, and physical therapies. But non‑pharmacological adjuncts — interventions that supplement standard medical care — have become of growing interest. Among them, music and music therapy stand out for being low-cost, low-risk, widely acceptable, and with multiple reported benefits.

In recent years, a growing body of rigorous studies has documented specific ways in which music can help patients—reducing pain, easing anxiety, improving mood, facilitating recovery, and even enhancing physiological metrics. Below, we examine the evidence.

Evidence from Research

Mood, Pain, and Anxiety

One of the most replicated findings is that listening to music can improve mood and reduce the perception of pain among hospitalised patients. For example:

A prospective study at Johns Hopkins Hospital with 151 general medicine inpatients found that when patients listened to a few of their favourite songs, there was a statistically significant drop in both mood disturbance (as measured by anxiety and depression scales) and pain scores.
In emergency department (ED) settings, randomised controlled trials have shown that adding music therapy (MT) to standard analgesic care produces greater reductions in pain and anxiety than analgesics alone. For instance, a trial in Bangkok found that non‑trauma patients in the MT group experienced a significant drop in pain (about –1.52 points on a numerical pain scale), whereas the control group showed almost no change. Anxiety, too, was appreciably lowered.

These outcomes show that music doesn’t just distract—it seems to engage psychological and physiological processes that modulate the experience of pain and emotional stress.

Critical Care / ICU / Polytrauma

Patients in critical care, polytrauma units, or intensive care, who are often in severe pain, under sedation, or undergoing mechanical ventilation, are also showing benefits from music:

A study of polytrauma patients (critically injured people) demonstrated that music therapy reduced both anxiety and pain, though changes in heart rate or blood pressure weren’t significant. The subjective benefits, however, were meaningful.
In pilot studies of inpatients in telemetry and ICU units, listening to music for 30 minutes has been shown to lower both pain and anxiety ratings.

Thus, even when patients are very ill or medical interventions are intense, music appears to help with subjective well-being.

Physiological Measures and Vital Signs

While music’s effects on subjective states like pain and anxiety are clear, evidence is more mixed with respect to physiological metrics, such as heart rate, blood pressure, and respiratory rate:

A systematic review (“music as an intervention for hospital patients”) found that music played through headphones reduces anxiety in “normal care delivery” situations, and may reduce respiratory rate. But the impact on other vital signs (heart rate, blood pressure) is inconsistent, especially during procedures.
Another narrative review of sound and music in hospital settings noted that soothing music reduces stress, blood pressure, and postoperative trauma, particularly when compared with silence or standard care. However, it also cautioned that not all sounds or environments are positive; hospital soundscapes are complex.

Thus, although physiological effects exist, they are often small, variable, and context-dependent (e.g., type of music, volume, timing, patient state).

Special Populations: Children, Rare Diseases, Adolescents

Certain groups may gain particular benefits:

A scoping review of children and young people with rare diseases found that music therapy or music medicine reduced anxiety, stress, and pain during clinical procedures; improved communication, social skills, and coping; and enhanced overall quality of life.
A study of hospitalised adolescents who worked with composers to design music interventions found that engaging with music creatively supported emotional regulation, sense of control, connection to identity, and a sense of meaning in an often disorienting environment.

Patient Experience, Wellbeing, and Recovery

Beyond immediate pain/anxiety relief, music contributes to broader wellbeing, sense of dignity, and positive experiences in hospital stays:

A survey of 176 inpatient participants in a Therapeutic Bedside Music Program (musician-facilitated) found that many reported calming/relaxing effects, joy, reduced stress, improved emotional well-being, and feeling more supported during a difficult time. Some even believed music positively impacted their physical healing.
Live music programmes (e.g., charities that bring musicians into wards, communal hospital spaces, and critical care units) have been shown to improve mood, reduce feelings of isolation among patients, and boost staff morale.

How Music Helps

Understanding why music exerts beneficial effects helps clarify for which patients, in which contexts, and in what manner it’s most effective.

Distraction and Attention Shift
Music draws attention away from unpleasant stimuli. Pain, anxiety, and fear often become more intense when focused on; music offers a competing sensory stimulus, helping patients shift their focus toward something pleasant. This is supported by numerous studies in which patients report reduced pain awareness during music.
Emotional Regulation & Psychological Comfort
Music can evoke positive emotions, memories, a sense of normalcy, a sense of control, or comfort. For patients in the hospital who may feel powerless, music affords a measure of personal agency (e.g., by choosing what to listen to) or reconnection with identity. For example, adolescents who compose or select music report feelings of pride and engagement.
Reduction of Stress & Anxiety
Music can have calming effects on the nervous system, reducing sympathetic activation. Decreases in anxiety can lead to lower levels of stress hormones such as cortisol, reduced agitation, and more relaxed physiological states. Studies with ICU/telemetry or general ward patients show reductions in anxiety scores after music.
Physiological Synchronization
Music with a certain tempo, rhythm, and structure can influence breathing, heart rate, and even perhaps hormonal/neurochemical responses. For example, in a pilot study, patients listening to soothing music experienced a reduction in respiratory rate. Some music interventions are designed to match or slow breathing, thereby encouraging relaxation.
Pain Modulation via Endorphins & Neurochemical Pathways
Music is believed to stimulate the release of endorphins, serotonin, dopamine, oxytocin and other neurotransmitters that are involved in mood and pain modulation. While direct evidence from hospital settings remains limited, this is one pathway by which music can reduce the subjective experience of pain. Some of the music research indicates activation of the reward pathways. (Also, music therapy in ED studies typically complements analgesics, rather than replacing them.)
Enhanced Coping, Social and Communicative Benefits
Music interventions often bring patients together (e.g., live music), or engage them in choosing, creating, or sharing music. This fosters social support, reduces isolation, improves communication (especially for children or individuals with communication difficulties), and may enhance meaning and psychological resilience. The adolescent composer/listener study is a good example.

Practical Applications & Case Examples

Here are ways in which hospitals are applying music (or could apply) and how those applications align with the evidence.

Recorded Music in Patient Rooms or Wards
Probably the easiest to deploy: letting patients listen to self‑selected or mood‑appropriate recorded music via headphones or speakers. This is widely used in studies that show improvement in mood, pain reduction, and anxiety. Benefits are maximised when patients choose the music (familiar, preferred). E.g., the Johns Hopkins study in which patients listening to their favourite songs experienced improved mood and reduced pain.
Music Therapy with Trained Therapists
Music therapists design interventions tailored to patients’ needs: live performance, singing, interactive music, composition, and guided listening. These are particularly useful in critical care, pediatric settings, psychiatric units, and for emotional or psychosocial support. For example, in polytrauma patients, structured music therapy reduced pain and anxiety.
Live Music Performances in Wards / Communal Spaces
Live music can create shared moments, bring joy, and reduce isolation. Organisations such as Music in Hospitals & Care in the UK bring live musicians into wards, ICUs, special care, etc. Their data suggests that live music can have a greater impact than recorded music, particularly in mental health, oncology, and critical care, for both patients and staff.
Bedside Music / Therapeutic Bedside Music Programmes
Having musicians visit individual patients, often bedside, to play live or provide curated listening experiences. The “Therapeutic Bedside Music Program” study mentioned above: 176 recipients; many reported relaxing, joyful experiences, a calming influence during stress, and perceived impact on healing.
During Procedures / Pre‑/Post‑ Operative Phases
Music used before, during, and after surgery has been shown to attenuate postoperative pain, reduce anxiety, and reduce analgesic (painkiller) demand. The Queen Mary University of London review of almost 7,000 surgical patients across 73 randomised trials showed significant effects in reducing postoperative pain, anxiety, and need for pain relief with music intervention.
Use in Emergency Departments
Short sessions of music therapy in the ED have been effective for reducing pain and anxiety, improving perceived quality of care. The Bangkok trial cited above is recent.
Special Settings: Children, Adolescents, Rare Diseases
For pediatric patients and those with rare or complex conditions, music can help reduce procedural distress, enhance communication, and social engagement. Studies show improved coping skills and reduced stress during procedures.

Limitations, Challenges, and Considerations

While the evidence is promising, important caveats and practical challenges remain that must be addressed to ensure that music interventions are effective, ethical, and sustainable.

Variability in Studies
Studies differ in many crucial respects: type of music (recorded vs. live), degree of patient choice permitted, duration, timing (before, during, after procedures), patient population, and outcome measures. This makes it hard to generalise or to define an optimal “dose” or format. Many studies are small in size.
Physiological vs. Subjective Outcomes
Many benefits are reported in subjective measures (self‑reported pain, anxiety, mood). Physiological outcomes such as heart rate and blood pressure are less consistent. Sometimes, no significant change is observed in vital signs, especially under more extreme stress or during invasive procedures.
Timing and Context Matter
Music may be more effective in some contexts (e.g., during waiting or recovery) than in others (e.g., during emergency surgery). Additionally, the patient’s state of mind, physical discomfort, sedation, and level of consciousness can influence whether music is beneficial. Music during surgical procedures may be limited by operating room protocols, noise, and safety considerations.
Choice, Personal Preference, Cultural Relevance
Personalisation seems key. Familiar, preferred music tends to be more effective. If music is imposed, or culturally mismatched, or disliked by patients, it could have neutral or even negative effects. Similarly, volume and type (tempo, rhythm, lyrics vs instrumental) matter.
Operational, Logistical, and Ethical Concerns
Hospitals will need to consider how to implement: who provides the music (live musician or recording), how to integrate with existing care schedules, possible interference with medical equipment or procedures, and consent, especially for patients unable to communicate. Also, ensuring equity (all patients should have access, not just those in certain wards or with advocacy).
Sustainability & Resources
Music programmes that rely on live musicians or dedicated therapists require funding, scheduling, and coordination. Ensuring long‑term integration into hospital routine (rather than ad hoc events) is a challenge.
Evidence Gaps
More large‑scale, high‑quality randomised controlled trials are needed, especially for specific populations and clinical settings. Also, a better understanding of biological mechanisms, long‑term effects, and cost‑effectiveness.

Implications for Hospital Policy and Care

Given the evidence, what should hospitals, health systems, and policymakers consider?

Incorporate Music into Standard Care as Adjunct, Not Replacement
Music should be seen primarily as a non‑pharmacological adjunct to standard care. It does not replace analgesics or anxiolytics in severe cases, but it can reduce the required doses, improve comfort, and potentially reduce side effects.
Offer Choice and Personalisation
Allowing patients to choose their music (genre, familiar songs, instrumental vs vocal) improves engagement and outcomes. Interventions that force unpopular choices risk being less effective or even irritating.
Integrate Early
Music interventions early in hospital stays (pre‑surgery waiting, early in admission) or during high‑stress moments (procedures, ICU) may have greater cumulative benefit. Also, offering music during recovery helps mood and healing.
Deploy Multiple Modes: Live, Recorded, Interactive
Depending on resources, hospitals might use a mix of live performances, recorded selections (on headphones or room speakers), bedside music, and interactive musical engagement for patients who can participate. Live music appears particularly effective in enhancing both patient and staff morale.
Measurement and Monitoring
Hospitals should track outcomes (pain scores, anxiety, medication use, patient satisfaction, length of stay) to understand the impact of music programmes. This helps justify resource allocation and fine‑tune what works best.
Training and Protocols
Staff (nurses, therapists) should be aware of when music may be beneficial, how to help patients access music safely, and how to avoid interference with medical devices and noise policies. In some cases, collaboration with certified music therapists is beneficial, particularly for complex cases (e.g., ICU, psychiatric, and pediatric patients).
Collaboration with Arts / Music Organisations & Funding
Many hospital music programmes are supported by charities or community arts groups. Building partnerships can help provide musicians or volunteers, fund equipment, and support sustainability.
Patient‑Centred Environments
Hospitals can design waiting areas and communal spaces that incorporate calming ambient music or natural sounds (e.g., gentle instrumental pieces) to mitigate harsh noises (alarms, ventilation, etc.). Even non‑active patients benefit from an improved overall environment.

Case Studies and Programmes

Here are some concrete examples and programmes that have implemented music interventions with promising outcomes:

Music in Hospitals & Care (UK)
This charity works closely with many hospitals across the UK to bring live music into wards, including older people’s care, mental health services, critical care, neonatal units, and cancer care. Their data indicate improved well-being, reduced stress and anxiety, and benefits not only for patients but also for staff.
Therapeutic Bedside Music Programme
A study of 176 recipients found that bedside music interventions increased feelings of calm and relaxation and joy, and helped them through stressful times. Some recipients believed there was even a positive effect on physical healing. This kind of personalised care made a notable difference in patient experience.
Surgery/Post‑operative Music Interventions
The large systematic review by Queen Mary University of London (73 randomised trials, ~7,000 patients) confirmed that music before, during, and after surgery reduces not only pain and anxiety but also the need for postoperative pain relief. This is especially relevant for surgical wards, preoperative care, and recovery.
Emergency Department Music Therapy
In the study in Bangkok, the addition of 30‑40 minute music therapy sessions in the ED significantly reduced pain and anxiety, especially for non‑trauma pain. Also improved perceptions of service quality.
Children with Rare Diseases / Paediatric Interventions
Music medicine/therapy are used in paediatric wards and among children with rare or complex health conditions; outcomes include reduced procedural pain / distress, improved mood, enhanced coping skills, and increased social engagement.

Quantifiable Benefits & Outcomes

From the literature, we can summarise quantifiable outcomes in hospital populations:

Outcome	Typical Effect / Findings
Pain reduction	Many studies report moderate reductions in pain scores when music is used alongside standard care. (‑0.5 to ‑2 points on 10‑point scales in some trials)
Anxiety reduction	Significant reductions in anxiety, as measured by validated instruments, during or after music exposure.
Reduced analgesic/ anxiolytic medication use	Some studies, especially surgical/post‑operative, find that patients need less pain relief or sedatives if music is provided.
Improved patient satisfaction/experience	Patients report greater satisfaction, more positive hospital experiences, and a sense of being more cared for when music is provided.
Mood enhancement	Improvement in mood, alleviation of depressive or distressed feelings.
Physiological stress markers	Some evidence of reductions in respiratory rate; mixed effects on blood pressure and heart rate.
Sleep improvement	Some studies (though fewer) suggest soft music before bed improves sleep quality in hospitalised patients. (Though more robust trials are needed) — suggested in narrative reviews of sleep quality improvements.

Conclusion

The evidence is growing: music in hospitals is not a mere luxury. It is a bona fide therapeutic adjunct that can reduce pain, anxiety, improve mood and patient experience, and in many cases meaningfully aid recovery. It is low-risk, relatively low-cost, and often deeply appreciated by patients.

For hospitals that wish to improve patient‑centred care, integrating music in its many forms—recorded, live, bedside, participatory—offers a promising path. The key is to do so thoughtfully: respect patient preferences; align with care protocols; ensure safety; and evaluate impact.

With more research, greater funding, improved guidelines, and creative implementation, the therapeutic power of music can become part of standard hospital care rather than an occasional add-on. For those lying in hospital beds, hearing a favourite song might bring more than comfort—it might bring hope, relief, and a better path toward healing.

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The Healing Power of Music in Hospital Settings