Music May Ease Anxiety in Eye Clinics - Summary - MDSpire

Music May Ease Anxiety in Eye Clinics

  • By

  • Andrea Surnit

  • May 15, 2026

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Objective:

To evaluate the impact of background music and multimedia, specifically calming aquatic and ocean imagery, on patient anxiety in ophthalmology waiting rooms.

Key Findings:
  • Mean anxiety scores were significantly lower in the music-only (3.59) and multimedia (3.74) groups compared to the no-media group (5.69), with moderate effect sizes (Cohen’s d = 0.65–0.70).
  • Multimedia exposure was associated with higher satisfaction scores compared to both no media and music alone, although effect sizes for satisfaction were small.
  • Patients aged 65 years and older reported more consistent benefits from both interventions, indicating a potential age-related effect.
Interpretation:

Auditory input alone can significantly reduce anxiety, while multimedia environments may enhance patient satisfaction and perceived helpfulness.

Limitations:
  • The study used pseudo-randomized allocation rather than individual patient randomization, which may affect the validity of the findings.
  • No statistical adjustments were made for clustering by clinic day, which could influence results.
  • Patients were aware of the waiting-room condition, introducing potential bias in self-reported outcomes.
  • Individual wait times and exposure duration were not recorded, leaving uncertainty about their impact on anxiety scores.
  • Outcomes were limited to self-reported measures without physiological assessments, which could provide a more comprehensive understanding of anxiety.
Conclusion:

The findings suggest that implementing music and multimedia in waiting rooms can improve patient experience, but further research is needed to establish causality and address the limitations identified.

Original Source(s)

Music May Ease Anxiety in Eye Clinics

  • by Andrea Surnit

  • May 15, 2026

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