To assess the feasibility, acceptability, and effects of early listening of structured and personalized vocal music on psychological well-being in acute stroke patients.
Approach:
Study Design: A single-center prospective randomized clinical trial with blinded outcome assessment.
Participants: 150 patients aged 18 to 85 years with acute ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke, randomized to music listening or standard care.
Intervention: 1-hour weekday sessions of personalized Italian vocal music delivered via tablet and headphones until discharge.
Outcomes: Primary outcomes included feasibility and acceptability, assessed through enrollment rates, dropout rates, and patient-reported outcomes (PROMs) at discharge.
Key Findings:
Enrollment rate was 91%, dropout rate was 6.7%, and median cumulative listening time was 6 hours.
Over 80% rated the intervention highly acceptable.
Music group had lower Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS-d) and (HADS-a) scores compared to controls.
Music listening was associated with better sleep quality and lower pain/discomfort scores.
Interpretation:
Early initiation of structured and personalized vocal music listening during acute stroke hospitalization is feasible and acceptable.
Limitations:
Single-center design limits generalizability.
Prevalence of patients with low NIHSS scores may affect findings.
Absence of an active sham control raises the possibility of nonspecific effects.
by Giacomo Giacalone, Silvia De Boni, Sara Pezzotta, Emanuele Dotto, Francesca Colombo, Raffaella Chieffo, Mario Orrico, Miryam Cannizzaro, Mor Gueye, Massimo Filippi, Luisa Roveri
