Abstract
Context: Music in the health care environment can ease people’s minds and serve as a positive diversion.(1) Carefully selected music brings balance, unity and harmony to the soul.(2) Implementing music across the health care spectrum is a benefit to visitors, patients and staff.|Objective/Design: The purpose of this quality improvement project was to examine the effects of streaming music into the hallways of a medical center.|Specific aims were:|Aim 1: Collaboratively implement the music pilot.|Aim 2: Establish an education program for implementation of music.|Aim 3: Evaluate music both qualitatively and quantitatively.|Main Outcome Measures: Interviews were conducted with 58 groups who were either staff or visitors at the medical, surgical or step down units during the 1.25-hours the music played. The music was played at 51 decibels, which was equal to the average level of noise in the facility. The genre of music chosen was with no percussion.|Results: Two questions on the survey were based on a 1-5 Likert scale with one being not valuable and five being very valuable. An average of 4.1 was received when asking how valuable the music was. On the question regarding should the music continue, an average score of 4.5 was received. A theme emerged indicating visitors and staff found music relaxing.|Conclusions: A majority of those interviewed requested the music continue. Issues regarding noise differences between the units require further investigation.