The Effect of Music in the Pediatric Emergency Department Waiting Room on Caregiver Anxiety

The Effect of Music in the Pediatric Emergency Department Waiting Room on Caregiver Anxiety

The purpose of this research study is to examine the effects of playing classical music in the waiting room on caregiver anxiety. People who enter the study will be asked a few identifier questions including age and relation to patient and then will be asked fill out a survey regarding anxiety.

The study investigators will initially screen for participants based on the patient's acuity level. If the patient meets the low acuity requirement and if they have a wait time greater than 20 minutes then the caregiver will be approached to obtain informed consent once they have been placed in a room. If they choose to be included in the study, the patient's medical record number will be recorded, a personal identification number will be assigned, and the patient's information will be entered into the personal identification number key and into our research database. A questionnaire asking participants age and relation to patient and the state-trait anxiety inventory will be administered to the caregiver. An additional question of perceived wait time will also be asked.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Adult caregivers; age >18 year, accompanying a pediatric patient with acuity level ≥ 4
• Patient must have been in waiting area for at least 20 minutes

Exclusion Criteria:

• Non-english speaking caregivers
• Hearing impaired caregivers
• Caregivers accompanying a patient with an acuity level less than 4