319: Effects of MusicCare�, a Music Intervention Medical Device, on Pain and Anxiety in Dialysis Patients

Topic: Clinical Science
Subtopic: Non-specific to any diagnosis, Non-pharmacological treatments, Pain in Special Populations

Background and Aims: Patients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis experience a high burden of physical and psychological symptoms. Chronic pain is highly prevalent in this population, affecting approximately 60% of patients, with moderate to severe pain reported in more than 40% of cases. Anxiety and psychological distress are also common among hemodialysis patients and are associated with poorer quality of life and treatment tolerance. These findings highlight the need for effective non-pharmacological interventions to address pain and anxiety during dialysis sessions.
The objective of this study was to demonstrate the effects of Music Care© on pain and anxiety in patients undergoing chronic hemodialysis.

Methods: A prospective observational study was conducted in the Aurar Hemodialysis Center (Saint-Louis, La Réunion). Adult patients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis for at least three months were included. Participants received individualized music intervention sessions using Music Care©, a medical device, following standardized specifications (U Sequence).
The primary endpoint was the level of pain assessed using verbal numeric rating scale (NRS) measured before and after the sessions. The secondary criteria were the anxiety level (NRS) and satisfaction (NRS) measured before and after the sessions. Pre–post comparisons were performed using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test. A p-value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Results: A total of 50 patients were included, a mean (SD) age of 65.9 years (11.3) with 54% men. Two patients did not receive any music-intervention session. The mean number of music-intervention sessions/patient was 4.2, ranging 0-6 sessions. Significant reduction (p<0.0001) of pain was observed from the first session with mean (SD) pain score from 5.5 (1.5) before the session to 2.8 (1.2) after the session (49% decrease). Mean anxiety score also showed a significant reduction. The anxiety level decreased significantly (-2.4 (1.6), decrease of 48%, p<0.0001). Average satisfaction after the first session was 7.0 (±1.9).

Conclusions: This study suggests that the medical device Music Care© may be immediately effective in treating pain and anxiety (49% and 48% decrease, respectively) in patients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis. A very high satisfaction from the patients was also noted. These findings support the integration of music-based interventions as non-pharmacological adjuncts in routine dialysis care. This simple-to-use technique fits perfectly into a comprehensive multidisciplinary approach to pain management.

References: [1] Davison SN, Rathwell S, Ghosh S, George C, Pfister T, Dennett L. The Prevalence and Severity of Chronic Pain in Patients With Chronic Kidney Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Can J Kidney Health Dis. 2021 Feb 19;8:2054358121993995.
[2] Antari GAA, Widyanthari DM. Symptom burden and health-related quality of life in hemodialysis patients. Enfermería Clínica. 2020;30(7):117-120.
[3] Guetin S, Ginies P, Siou DK, Picot MC, Pommie C, Guldner E, Touchon J. The effects of music intervention in the management of chronic pain: a single-blind, randomized, controlled trial. The Clinical journal of pain. 2012; 28(4), 329-337.
[4] Guétin S, Chanques G, Samir Jaber, Gilles Boccara, Luc Brun, Emmanuelle Vuillaume Cerdan, Gilles Guerrier, Nadine Mackenzie, Patrick Giniès, Jacques Touchon. Development, standardization and evaluation of a digital application for care through music: Example of the ‘‘Music Care©’’ Medical Device (MD), Douleurs : Evaluation – Diagnostic – Traitement 2025; 26(4): 217-229.

Presenting Author: Stéphane Guétin
Submitting Author: Stéphane Guetin

Senior Author: Stéphane Guétin

IASP 2026 Global Year theme of Neuropathic Pain: Yes

• Serban Ardeleanu: MD PhD - AURAR
• Margot Courtois: NA - AURAR
• Daniel Won-Shoo-Tong: NA - AURAR
• Stéphane Guétin: PhD - Université Paris René-Descartes