Effect of preferred music on uremic pruritus in hemodialysis patients Download PDF

Background and purpose: Pruritus is one of the most common difficulties of patients of final stage renal failure under hemodialysis. It has some symptoms that affect the quality of life of patients suffering renal failure. However, the common treatments for solving this difficulty have not been very effective. One recent treatment for uremic pruritus is the use of complementary therapies. So the aim of this study is to examine the influence of preferential music on the pruritus of patients under hemodialysis. Method of study: This study was half-experimental with the convenience sampling with pre- and posttest and control group conducted on 84 patients referring to hemodialysis department of specific diseases center of Birjand University of Medical Sciences. In the test group the music therapy was used during hemodialysis for 30 minutes. The data were collected by a questionnaire consisting of demographic information of participating patients, a five-dimensional questionnaire before beginning intervention and eyesight indicator before and 15 minutes after music therapy. Then the data were evaluated by using descriptive and analytical statistical methods and SPSS version 21 software. Findings: The results showed that the mean pruritus before and after the intervention in two control and test groups was respectively, 5.33±2.275, 5.2±21.739, 5.2±31.268 and 1±2.711. Analysis of data showed that music therapy reduced the pruritus. Conclusion: Music therapy can reduce significantly the pruritus in patients under hemodialysis.