A randomized controlled trial on the effect of music and white noise listening on anxiety and vital signs during intramuscular injection skill learning

• Published in: Teaching and learning in nursing 2024-01, Vol.19 (1), p.e52-e58
• Main Authors: Aksoy, Berna, Ozturk, Levent
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Anxiety; Music; Nursing students; Vital signs; White noise
• ISSN: 1557-3087; 1557-2013
• DOI: 10.1016/j.teln.2023.08.020

•Nursing students experience fear and anxiety while transforming knowledge into skills.•Nursing educators should take initiative to reduce students' anxiety by creating an active and flexible learning environment during skill acquisition.•Music and white noise listening reduce anxiety and increase academic success.•Listening to favorite music can be a useful intervention for promoting skill achievements and development. This study explored the effects of environmental white noise and music on the physiological and psychological conditions of nursing students who were first-year (n = 50). Also, intramuscular injection skills were evaluated. The data of randomized controlled design were collected by using an information form, the intramuscular injection checklist, The State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, and the vital signs assessment form. After interventions, the mean state anxiety levels of the groups showed a statistically significant difference, and the score of students in the white noise group was higher than students in the music and control groups (p ≤ .001). All groups showed a statistically significant difference between the first and second measurements for the state anxiety level (p < .05). While no statistically significant difference was determined in the means of heart rate and diastolic pressure among the groups after the intervention, the means of systolic pressure of the white noise group increased significantly when compared to the music group (p < .05). There were no significant differences between the groups in the skill test (p > .05). While music listening and a silent environment had positive effects on the state of anxiety of students, white noise had negative effects. No significant difference was determined between the groups in the skill test.