Relacs-study

Rationale: ICU environment predisposes patients to several stressful factors including high levels of anxiety, pain, sleep disruption, delirium, inability to communicate, and immobility. Consequently, leading to higher risk of complications and longer hospitalization. Agitation is a common response to restlessness in critically ill patients.

Administration of sedative and analgesic medication is often chosen in order to reduce agitation and thus improve patient comfort. Unfortunately, these medicinal interventions are known to lead to negative effects. we hypothesize that the same factors on which music has positive effects in surgical patients, influence the agitation and sedation level in ICU patients. The primary aim of this study is to investigate whether music reduces sedative and analgesic requirement while reaching light sedation level. 

Aim: The primary objective is the adherence to the provision of the music intervention and PSG assessment as planned. Secondary objectives include the effect of music on sedative and analgesic drug use, pain, sleep quality, delirium, neurohormonal stress response, and patient experience regarding the music intervention.

Study design: non-blinded randomized controlled trial.