The effectiveness of binaural beat audio on anxiety state in patients undergoing fiberoptic bronchoscopy: A prospective randomized controlled trial

Abstract

Fiberoptic bronchoscopy is an invasive procedure known to contribute anxiety in patients. Music has been demonstrated to relieve anxiety in a such procedure. Binaural beat, an audio technology that creates different frequency between ears which can entrain the brainwaves, has been used to reduce anxiety in some operations. In this study, we aimed to determine the anxiolytic effect of binaural beat in patients undergoing bronchoscopy. We randomly assigned eligible subjects to receive binaural beat music, plain music or no music. All subjects were asked to wear earphones 15 minutes before starting the procedure, during the procedure and until 15 minutes after finishing bronchoscopy. We measured anxiety level with State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) questionnaire. Blood pressure, heart rate and sedative drugs used were also recorded. Eighty-one subjects were included and randomized to 3 groups equally. The baseline STAI state scores, systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP) and heart rate (HR) were non-significant difference between 3 groups. Post bronchoscopy STAI state scores were recorded and the mean change were -7.04 (p=0.001) in binaural group, -4.44 (p=0.009) in plain music group and -0.17 (p=0.912) in control group. The mean SBP and DBP were significantly decreased from baseline -10.15 (p=0.003) and -5.7 (p=0.026) in binaural group. Binaural beat audio decreased patients’ anxiety measured by STAI questionnaire. Physiological indicators of anxiety, SBP and DBP, were also significantly lower in binaural group. Music with binaural beat has potential to relieve anxiety in patients undergoing fiberoptic bronchoscopy.