Soo, M.S., Jarosz, J.A., Wren, A.A., Soo, A.E., Mowery, Y.M., Johnson, K.S., . . . Shelby, R.A. (2016). Imaging-guided core-needle breast biopsy: Impact of meditation and music interventions on patient anxiety, pain, and fatigue. Journal of the American College of Radiology, 13, 526–534.
To evaluate the effects of guided meditation and music on patients’ anxiety, pain, and fatigue during breast biopsy
Patients were randomly assigned to meditation, music, or standard care with supportive dialogue. Patients in the meditation and music groups were given headphones. During the procedure, patients in the meditation group listened to an audio recorded medication designed to help patients relax and focus on feelings of kindness and compassion. The music group listened to their choice of music. The standard care control group received supportive dialogue during the procedure. Biopsies were done with local anesthesia. Study assessments were done pre and post biopsy.
Anxiety declined in all groups, while those in the meditation group (p = 0.04) and the music group (p = 0.03) had greater decline in anxiety compared to controls. Fatigue declined in all, with no significant differences between groups. Decline in pain differed among the study groups. The music group had greater increases in pain than the meditation group (p = 0.03), and pain increased in the control group. No difference in pain scores existed between the music and control groups. Overall post-procedure pain scores averaged 1.8.
The study findings suggest that a meditation intervention during biopsy may help to reduce patient anxiety and pain.
This study showed that listening to a meditation intervention during breast biopsy was associated with lower anxiety postprocedure. This is a low-risk intervention that may be helpful for patients; however, whether this effect would have lasted for any length of time after the procedure is unknown.