Objectives
The specific objectives of the clinical trial are:
- Compare anxiety-state scores between the experimental and control groups in the immediate preoperative period of patients undergoing cardiac surgery;
- Measure the intensity of acute pain, at rest and cough stimulus, on the 1st postoperative day and identify its location in patients undergoing cardiac surgery;
- Compare pain intensity scores, at rest and cough stimulus, between the experimental and control groups, on the 1st postoperative day of patients undergoing cardiac surgery;
- Compare cardiorespiratory parameters (blood pressure, heart rate, respiratory rate and oxygen saturation), between the experimental and control groups, in the immediate preoperative period and on the 1st postoperative day of patients undergoing cardiac surgery;
- Compare intra-group, preoperative anxiety-state scores, postoperative pain scores, at rest and cough stimulus, and cardiorespiratory parameters (blood pressure, heart rate, respiratory rate and oxygen saturation) in patients undergoing cardiac surgery;
- To verify the correlation between preoperative anxiety-state and intensity of postoperative pain in patients undergoing cardiac surgery.
Study design
The study will be a single-centred, randomized, parallel clinical trial with simple masking and will follow the Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials (CONSORT) Declaration - extension for randomized clinical trials of non-pharmacological treatments [26].
This clinical trial protocol has been designed in accordance with the Standard Protocol Items: Recommendations for Interventional Trials (SPIRIT) guideline [27], as evidenced in the checklist (see Additional File 1).
Study location
The study will be developed at the Surgical Clinic Unit and Coronary Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the Hospital de Clínicas of the Federal University of Triângulo Mineiro (HC-UFTM), located in Uberaba, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
Inclusion and exclusion criteria for participants
The study will include patients who will undergo elective cardiac surgery, aged 18 or over, of both sexes.
Patients with hearing and/or cognitive impairment or impairment (recorded in medical records) will be excluded; patients who are using sedative and/or anxiolytic drugs at the time of data collection, in the immediate preoperative period, and those who are unable to maintain a dialogue with the researcher to answer the items of the data collection instrument.
After meeting the established criteria, patients who express agreement to participate in the research, after all clarifications, will sign the Free and Informed Consent Form.
Randomization, concealment of allocation and masking
Study participants will be randomly allocated, in a 1: 1 ratio, to one of the groups, experimental (with musical listening) or control (without musical listening), using a randomization scheme generated by a specific website for this purpose.
After randomization, a list will be generated, numbered sequentially, for the allocation of participants to the research groups. To ensure concealment of the allocation, the group of each participant, according to the generated list, will be inserted in opaque envelopes, numbered sequentially, which will be sealed, stored in a safe place, and will only be opened by the researcher responsible for the intervention, at the moment the application of musical listening or standard care for the corresponding participant. The entire process of randomization and concealment of the allocation will be carried out by the statistician without clinical involvement in the study.
The clinical trial will be conducted with simple masking, since the researchers responsible for applying the data collection instrument and measuring the variables studied, as well as the team of prescribers of the service will be masked as to the allocation group of each patient. However, due to the nature of the intervention, it will not be possible to mask the research participant, considering that he/she will be aware of being part of the experimental group, as he/she is submitted to musical listening.
Intervention
The non-pharmacological intervention to be evaluated will be music listening for 20 minutes.
The international research and development organization Joanna Briggs Institute synthesized the best available evidence on the use of music as a therapeutic intervention for the management of anxiety or pain related to surgical interventions and recommends the use of light and non-lyrical music, with 60 to 80 beats per minute, in low tones, preferably string, with minimal percussion and a volume of 60 dB [28].
The songs selected for this research, as well as their order, comprised part of the collection used in a clinical trial on anxiety in blood donors [29], which had technical advice from two music teachers.
The repertoire, which totals 20 minutes and 28 seconds, consists of five classical and instrumental music from the Baroque, classical and romantic periods, composed between the 18th and 19th centuries. The songs are:
Piece of music 1: Cello Suite nº 1, Prelude / Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750) / Instrument: Cello
Piece of music 2: Nocturne Op. 9 nº 2 / Composer: Frédéric Chopin (1810-1849) / Instrument: piano
Piece of music 3: Clarinet Concerto In A Major K 622 Adagio / Composer: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791)
Piece of music 4: Gymnopédie nº 1 / Composer: Erik Satie (1866-1925) / Instrument: piano
Piece of music 5: The Carnival of the Animals - Le Cygne / Composer: Charles-Camille Saint-Saëns (1835-1921) / Instruments: piano and cello
The sequence of the songs considered the proposal of initially having selections with more active and faster elements, combining with the level of activity and stress of the listener, and gradually moving on to slower, less stimulating and more relaxing songs [30].
Classical songs have common elements of relaxing and sedative music, so they are often used in recording for relaxation [30].
Experimental group
The patients in the experimental group will undergo musical hearing in the immediate preoperative period (up to 24 hours before surgery) and on the first postoperative day (24 to 48 hours after surgery), totalling two musical auditions for each patient.
Each musical audition will have a duration of 20 minutes and will be performed through headphones with a memory card containing the musical recording. The intervention will be conducted by the researcher, who adjusts the volume of the headset, instructs the patient to stay in a comfortable position on the bed, with his eyes closed, and then start listening to classical music. The time of the musical audition will be timed by the researcher.
Control group
Control group patients will receive standard care in the immediate preoperative period and on the 1st postoperative day. Standard care will consist of bed rest/armchair with routine care, for 20 minutes, timed by the researcher.
Criterion for discontinuing the intervention
The intervention of a given participant will only be discontinued upon request, withdrawing consent to participate in the research.
Concurrent care
The study will not interfere with the pharmacological strategy and care of patients, who will receive medications and procedures according to the medical prescription protocol of the study field institution. Information related to painkillers administered to participants will be inserted in the data collection instrument.
Data collection and management
Data collection will be performed on the patient's bed, once a day, in the immediate preoperative period (up to 24 hours before surgery) and on the first postoperative day (24 to 48 hours after surgery). The data related to the anaesthetic-surgical procedure will be collected from the patient's medical record.
No data will be collected in the immediate postoperative period (first 24 hours after surgery), since in this period, patients may still be under residual anaesthetic effect, making data collection unfeasible.
Data collection instrument
The data collection instrument, developed specifically for this study, was submitted to content validation by five judges with a doctorate, relevant experience in the field of nursing, teaching and evidence-based research.
The instrument contains four parts:
Part I – identification, sociodemographic and clinical data: initials of the patient's name, medical record number, date of birth, age, sex, ethnicity, origin, education, presented comorbidities, previous cardiac surgery and classification of physical status according to the American Society of Anaesthesiologists [31].
Part II – refers to the evaluation in the immediate preoperative period: preoperative time and the following data will be collected before and after the musical intervention or standard care: anxiety-state score according to the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) - STAI State, heart rate, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, respiratory rate, and oxygen saturation.
Part III – data regarding the anaesthetic-surgical procedure, to be obtained from the patient's record: surgery performed, anaesthetic block, duration of general anaesthesia, use of cardiopulmonary bypass, duration of cardiopulmonary bypass, duration of surgery, duration of the anaesthetic-surgical procedure, complications in the operating room and placement of a catheter for postoperative analgesia.
Part IV – refers to the evaluation on the 1st postoperative day. Information on postoperative time, extubation time, presence of chest drains and prescribed analgesic regimen will be obtained. After applying the Ramsay sedation scale, if the score is ≤ 3 points, the following data will be collected before and after the musical intervention or standard care:
- Evaluation of postoperative pain, with the patient at rest and after coughing stimulus: presence of pain, location of pain, pain intensity according to the Numerical Scale and classification of pain intensity;
- Values of heart rate, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, respiratory rate and oxygen saturation.
To assess state-anxiety, the STAI will be used, prepared by Spielberger, Gorsuch & Lushene [32], translated and validated for Brazilian Portuguese [33]. It consists of two distinct scales that measure two different concepts of anxiety: state of anxiety and trait of anxiety. The STAI anxiety trait scale contains 20 statements that require individuals to describe how they generally feel. The anxiety state scale (STAI State) also consists of 20 statements, but individuals indicate how they feel at a given moment [34].
For each statement, whose weight varies from one to four points, the individual must indicate how he feels, indicating one of the four available alternatives, totalling scores ranging from 20 to 80 points, in each scale [34].
The present research will evaluate only the state anxiety since the objective is to evaluate the level of anxiety in the moment before the surgery.
When applying the scale, it should be made clear to the patient that the questions do not have right or wrong answers and that the answers must correspond to one of the options given [35]. In the case of STAI State, the answer options are: absolutely no = 1; a little = 2; quite = 3; very much = 4.
To quantify the total score, the sum must be performed, assigning the score for the answer given to each question, however, for positive questions, the score must be inverted, that is, if the patient answers 1, a value is assigned 4; if you answer 2, a value of 3 is assigned; if you answer 3, you assign a value of 2 and if you answer 4, you assign a value of 1. On the STAI Status scale, the positive questions that should be scored in reverse are: 1, 2, 5, 8, 10, 11, 15, 16, 19, 20 [35].
It was evident that the scores on the state-anxiety scale increase in response to various types of tension and decrease as a result of relaxation training [34].
As for cardiorespiratory parameters, a portable pulse oximeter will be used to measure heart rate and oxygen saturation; to check the respiratory rate, breathing movements will be observed and counted for one minute. And the measurement of systolic and diastolic blood pressure will be performed by the indirect method of measurement with auscultatory technique, using a stethoscope and calibrated adult aneroid sphygmomanometer. The blood pressure measurement technique will follow the recommendations of the Brazilian Guidelines on Hypertension [36].
To quantify the intensity of postoperative pain, the Numerical Scale of 11 points will be used, graded from 0 to 10, where 0 means no pain and 10 means the worst pain ever felt. This is one of the validated scales for assessing pain intensity [15]. The Numeric Scale is a one-dimensional instrument, which quantifies the severity or intensity of pain, often used because it is quick and easy to apply [37].
Pain intensity will then be classified as: no pain (0), mild pain (1 to 4), moderate pain (5 to 7) and severe pain (8 to 10) [38].
Recruitment and Data Collection Procedures
To carry out the data collection, a team formed by three nurse researchers linked to the Study and Research Group on Evidence-Based Practice and Patient Safety at UFTM will be constituted.
One of the researchers will recruit the participants, make the allocation, and conduct the musical intervention or time the standard care time. The other researchers will be responsible for collecting the information in the medical records and for applying the data collection instrument to the patients, before and after the intervention or standard care, in the pre and postoperative period.
Before the start of data collection, the team will carry out training on the whole process and the instruments to be used, to guarantee the standardization and the correct execution of the procedures.
For recruitment, initially the researcher will obtain, each week, from the Cardiovascular Unit of HC-UFTM, the identification of the patients who will be submitted to the cardiac surgical procedure, the date of hospitalization and the surgery.
To encourage the recruitment of participants in order to obtain the target sample size, the research will have the support of the institution field of study, as well as the motivational aspect of potential participants, who will be informed about the relevance of the research and the need of their involvement so that scientific advances happen.
In the immediate preoperative period, in the hospital ward, patients who meet the inclusion criteria will be informed about the research and those who agree to participate, after all clarifications, will sign the Free and Informed Consent Term in two copies, one for the researcher and another for the patient.
Afterwards, the identification, sociodemographic and clinical data of the patients will be collected, followed by the assessment of the state-anxiety level, applying the State STAI and the measurement of the cardiorespiratory parameters (heart rate, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, respiratory rate and oxygen saturation).
Then the intervention will be applied (music listening for 20 minutes) for patients in the experimental group or standard care (routine care) for patients in the control group.
After the intervention or standard care, the instruments for assessing the state-anxiety level and cardiorespiratory parameters will be applied again.
On the 1st postoperative day, in the Coronary ICU, data related to the anaesthetic-surgical procedure and information on postoperative time, extubation time, presence of chest drains, and analgesic regimen prescribed on the day will initially be collected.
Then, the Ramsay sedation scale will be applied, and if the score presented by the patient is ≤ 3 points, the instruments for assessing pain (at rest and cough stimulus) and cardiorespiratory parameters will be applied.
For pain assessment, first with the patient at rest, he will be asked about the presence of pain. If the answer is positive, you will be asked to indicate the location and assign a score for the intensity of your pain, from 0 to 10, according to the Numerical Scale, where 0 means no pain and 10 the worst pain ever felt. So, the pain will be classified as mild, moderate, or severe.
The patient will then be asked to rest their hands on their abdomen, inhale deeply and cough. You will be asked about the presence of pain when coughing and if the answer is positive, you will be asked to indicate the location and assign a score for the intensity of your pain, from 0 to 10, according to the Numerical Scale, where 0 means absence of pain and 10 the worst pain ever felt. So, the pain will be classified as mild, moderate, or severe.
After measuring the cardiorespiratory parameters, the intervention will be applied (musical hearing for 20 minutes) for patients in the experimental group or standard care for patients in the control group.
After the intervention or standard care, the instruments for pain assessment (at rest and cough stimulus) will be applied again, according to the procedure described and the cardiorespiratory parameters.
Weekly, the research coordinator will check the consent terms and check the quality of the data collected in the instruments. After the conference by the coordinator, two researchers from the team will insert the data in an electronic bank stored in a password-protected computer, by double entry, to guarantee the validation of the data. Only researchers will have access to the electronic database, collection instruments and consent terms.
The flowchart of the research participants is described in figure 1 and the steps of data collection are summarized in figure 2.
Security aspects
To prevent cross-contamination, the team responsible for data collection will perform hand hygiene before and after the procedures; all equipment that comes into contact with the patient will be disinfected with 70% ethyl alcohol [39] and after each musical hearing, the disposable headphones protectors will be replaced.
During the pandemic period for the new coronavirus, all biosafety protocols will be strictly followed, and the data collection team will use all appropriate personal protective equipment, such as N95 mask, face shield, disposable apron, gloves and cap. Patients will also wear a disposable mask during collection in the pre- and postoperative period.
As for adverse events, their occurrence is not predictable in this research, given the nature of the intervention and the lack of description in the literature of adverse events resulting from musical hearing. However, in the event of any complication or adverse event to the participants, there will be a record of the information and immediate notification to the Research Ethics Committee.
Evaluated outcomes
Primary outcome
- Anxiety-state: refers to the average reduction (difference) of anxiety-state scores, obtained after subtracting the scores, before and after intervention or standard care, in both groups (experimental and control), preoperatively immediate.
Secondary outcomes
- Systolic blood pressure: refers to the mean reduction (difference) between the values of systolic blood pressure, obtained after subtracting the values, before and after intervention or standard care, in both groups (experimental and control), in the pre- immediate surgery and on the 1st postoperative day;
- Diastolic blood pressure: refers to the mean reduction (difference) between the values of diastolic blood pressure, obtained after subtracting the values, before and after intervention or standard care, in both groups (experimental and control), in the pre- immediate surgery and on the 1st postoperative day.
- Heart rate: refers to the average reduction (difference) between the heart rate values, obtained after subtracting the values, before and after intervention or standard care, in both groups (experimental and control), in the immediate preoperative period and on the 1st postoperative day;
- Respiratory frequency: refers to the average of the reduction (difference) between the respiratory frequency values, obtained after subtracting the values, before and after intervention or standard care, in both groups (experimental and control), in the immediate preoperative period and on the 1st postoperative day;
- Oxygen saturation: refers to the average increase (difference) between the oxygen saturation values, obtained after subtracting the values, after and before intervention or standard care, in both groups (experimental and control), in the pre- immediate surgery and on the 1st postoperative day;
- Postoperative pain: refers to the mean reduction (difference) of pain scores at rest and to the cough stimulus, obtained after subtracting the scores, before and after intervention or standard care, in both groups (experimental and control ), on the 1st postoperative day.
Statistical methods
Sample size
The sample size calculation was performed by a statistician without clinical involvement in the research and obtained, after conducting the pilot study, using the Power Analysis and Sample Size (PASS) version 13.0 software. It should be noted that the participants in the pilot study will not be part of the main study. A type I error α = 0.05 and a type II error β = 0.2 were considered, thus reaching a statistical power of 80%.
For the pilot study, 13 patients were analyzed, being 07 patients from the control group and 06 from the experimental group. Considering anxiety as the primary outcome, the mean reduction in the STAI State scores for the experimental group was 5.67 points (standard deviation: 5.89) and for the control group it was 3.00 points (standard deviation: 7.30). Based on these values, the sample size calculated is 196 participants, that is, 98 per group.
The possible losses of participants will be compensated by the substitution by another participant in the same allocation group (intervention or control).
Statistical analysis
The collected data will be inserted in an Excel® spreadsheet of the Windows® program, using the double entry technique, for later validation. The identification of each study participant, as well as the respective allocation group, will be done through codes. Then, the validated database will be imported into the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 21.0 for processing and analysis.
The normality of the data will be verified by the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test or by the Shapiro-Wilk. To test the hypothesis of homogeneity of the two groups (experimental and control), it will be used, when applicable, the Student's t test for independent samples in quantitative variables and the chi-square test of homogeneity for categorical variables.
The univariate exploratory analysis of the data will be performed by the distribution of absolute and relative frequency for categorical variables and measures of central tendency (mean and median) and of variability (amplitudes and standard deviation) for quantitative variables.
To compare the anxiety-state scores, cardiorespiratory parameters and pain intensity scores, at rest and to the cough stimulus, between the experimental and control groups, Student's t test for independent samples will be used, when applicable.
To compare the anxiety-state scores, cardiorespiratory parameters and pain intensity scores, at rest and to the cough stimulus, within each group, experimental and control (intra-group analysis), a paired t-test will be used, when applicable.
Subgroup analysis will be performed and, if there is a violation of homogeneity of the groups for one or more confounding variables, a corresponding post hoc multivariate analysis will be performed.
To check the correlation between preoperative anxiety-state and intensity of postoperative pain, Pearson's correlation coefficient will be used, if applicable.
This research will consider a level of significance α = 5% and a confidence interval of 95%. The data will be presented in tables and figures.
Ethical aspects
The study will be conducted in accordance with the ethical principles of the Declaration of Helsinki and Resolution No. 466, of December 12, 2012, of the National Health Council, Brazil, which deals with the regulatory guidelines and standards for research involving human beings [40].
The research project was registered and authorized by the Teaching and Research Management of HC-UFTM and approved by the HC-UFTM Research Ethics Committee under Opinion No. 3,474,676, CAAE: 16210819.6.0000.8667. This research was registered on the Brazilian Clinical Trials Registry (ReBEC) platform under number RBR-8mdyhd (UTN: U1111-1238-1227).
Participants will be provided with all information regarding the research, such as objectives, procedures, risks, and benefits, as well as clarifications regarding voluntary participation and the possibility of withdrawing from the study at any time without prejudice to treatment. After reading the Clarification Term, the participants' signature on the Informed Consent Form will be obtained in two copies, one for the participant and one for the researcher.
To minimize the risk of loss of data confidentiality, participants will be identified, in the survey, by codes. At no time will personal data or any information that can identify participants be disclosed.
All documents generated as a result of the research, such as data collection instruments and terms, will be kept in a safe place, with restricted access and after the completion of the clinical trial, they will remain on file for five years and will subsequently be incinerated, under the responsibility of the coordinating researcher.
It should be noted that any necessary and significant modifications to the study protocol will be documented as an amendment to the protocol and should be formally reported to the Research Ethics Committee, the Brazilian Clinical Trials Registry platform, and the journal in which the protocol has been published.
Dissemination of results
The results of the study will be disseminated to the academic and professional community, through the release of public access to the thesis, the publication of scientific articles and the presentation of papers at scientific events.