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Sent: Monday, February 07, 2005 7:13 PM
Subject: Music improves sleep quality in older adults


Journal of Advanced Nursing, February 2005
Volume 49, Issue 3, Page 234

ISSUES AND INNOVATIONS IN NURSING PRACTICE

Music improves sleep quality in older adults

Hui-Ling Lai PhD RN and
Marion Good PhD FAAN

Aim. The aim of this paper is to report an investigation of the
effects of soft music on sleep quality in older community-dwelling men
and women in Taiwan.

Background. Sleep is a complex rhythmic state that may be affected by
the ageing process. Few studies have focused on the effects of music, a
non-pharmacological method of improving the quality of sleep in older
adults.

Method. A randomized controlled trial was used with a two-group
repeated measures design.

Sixty people aged 60 83 years with difficulty in sleeping were
recruited through community leaders and screened using the Pittsburgh
Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and Epworth Sleepiness Scale. Those
reporting depression, cognitive impairment, medical or environmental
problems that might interfere with sleep; and those who used sleeping
medications, meditation, or caffeine at bedtime were excluded.
Participants listened to their choice among six 45-minute sedative
music tapes at bedtime for 3 weeks. There were five types of Western
and one of Chinese music. Sleep quality was measured with the PSQI
before the study and at three weekly post-tests. Groups were comparable
on demographic variables, anxiety, depressive symptoms, physical
activity, bedtime routine, herbal tea use, napping, pain, and pretest
overall sleep quality.

Results. Music resulted in significantly better sleep quality in the
experimental group, as well as significantly better components of sleep
quality: better perceived sleep quality, longer sleep duration, greater
sleep efficiency, shorter sleep latency, less sleep disturbance and
less daytime dysfunction
(P = 0·04 0·001). Sleep improved weekly, indicating a cumulative dose
effect.

Conclusion. The findings provide evidence for the use of soothing
music as an empirically-based intervention for sleep in older people.

http://www.blackwellpublishing.com/nursing/news/news.asp?id=124

http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/links/doi/10.1111/j.1365-
2648.2004.03281.x/

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