Five-element music relieves the anxiety and insomnia of medical staff against COVID-19 in the period of medical observation in a single recuperation center in China

Abstract

Objective: The medical staff fighting against COVID-19 virus are under great pressure. Anxiety and insomnia are common problems that are experienced and which need to be actively addressed when they returned from the epidemic front line. Five-element music (a kind of Chinese traditional music) has been tried for this purpose. Subjects and Methods: The medical staff who volunteered to participate in the trial were randomly divided into two groups. After a questionnaire and classification of their emotional type, both the groups received general music exposure. Then, Chinese five-element music is offered to the study group. After the trial, the improvement of anxiety and insomnia was evaluated by comparing the Self-Rating Anxiety Scale (SAS) and Self-Rating Scale of Sleep (SRSS) scores before and after the intervention. Results: The SAS and SRSS scores of the two groups demonstrated no obvious difference before recuperation and the number of people taking medicine was roughly the same. After the intervention of Chinese five-element music, the SAS and SRSS scores were comparatively better (P < 0.05) in the study group. The anxiety and insomnia scores significantly decreased (P = 0.001 and P = 0.000, respectively) and fewer pills were taken. Conclusion: Chinese five-element music during medical observation is effective in reducing anxiety and insomnia in medical staff treating COVID-19.