The Effect of a Musical Intervention on Stress Response to Venepuncture

The Effect of a Musical Intervention on Stress Response to Venepuncture

Randomised Crossover Trial in Preterm Infants less than 32 weeks to assess Music therapy and sucrose versus sucrose on stress

The purpose of this study is to assess whether the use of music therapy as a non-pharmacological intervention around the time of venepuncture significantly decreases the stress response of a stable preterm neonate, as measured by salivary cortisol levels .

The secondary aim of this study is to analyse the effect of music therapy on the EEG, and vital signs of the stable preterm neonate.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Infants born at less than 32 weeks gestational age (from 23+0 weeks' up to and including 31+6 weeks' gestational age)
• Infants must now be >32 weeks corrected gestational age
• Infants who are medically stable and due to have routine venepuncture as part of their management plan

Exclusion Criteria:

• Inability to obtain informed consent from parent
• Infants with known hearing impairment
• Infants receiving sedative medications
• Any evidence of dysfunction of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis
• Infants with congenital abnormalities
• Infants with known EEG abnormalities