International Journal of
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Research Article Volume 10 Issue 4
Impact of self-selected music on perceived pain intensity during cardiac implantable electronic device procedures: a single-centre experimental study
Ana Luísa da Cunha Rodrigues Santos de Almeida, Assunção Alves, Andreia Couto
Received: September 02, 2026 | Published: October 1, 2026
Citation: Almeida ALCRS, Alves A, Couto A. Impact of self-selected music on perceived pain intensity during cardiac implantable electronic device procedures: a single-centre experimental study. Int J Fam Commun Med. 2026;10(4):140-143. DOI: 10.15406/ijfcm.2026.10.00430
Abstract
Background: Cardiac implantable electronic devices (CIEDs), such as pacemakers and implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs), play a fundamental role in the treatment of arrhythmias. Their implantation and replacement procedures, generally performed under local anesthesia, require adequate analgesia to minimize patient pain. Music therapy, a nonpharmacological intervention free from adverse effects, has been shown to reduce pain perception, particularly when the music is selected by the patient. Therefore, investigating the impact of music during these procedures may contribute to the development of more effective pain management strategies. Objectives: To evaluate the effect of self-selected music on pain perception in patients undergoing cardiac implantable electronic device implantation procedures. Methods: A prospective, experimental, and analytical study was conducted at a hospital centre between March and August 2025. Sixty adult participants who met predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria were enrolled and subsequently randomized into a control group, with no music exposure, or an experimental group exposed to self-selected music throughout the entire procedure. Pain was assessed postoperatively using the Visual Analogue Scale (V AS). Results: Statistical analysis demonstrated homogeneity between the control and experimental groups. The non-normal distribution of the data required the use of the Mann- Whitney U test, yielding a pvalue below 0.05. The mean V AS score was 4.40 in the control group and 1.44 in the experimental group, corresponding to a difference of 2.96 points. Thus, the experimental group reported significantly lower pain perception than the control group. The covariates assessed did not influence the results. Conclusion: Exposure to self-selected music was associated with a statistically significant and clinically relevant reduction in pain during CIED procedures. Further evaluation across different device types and multicentre studies may establish this intervention as a valuable tool in healthcare practice associated with these procedures.
Keywords: self-selected music, pain, cardiac implantable electronic devices, pacemaker, implantable cardioverter-defibrillator, local anesthesia
©2026 Almeida, et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and build upon your work non-commercially.