Credit: Kashfi Halford

When examining preterm infants with retinopathy of prematurity (ROP), Turkish researchers recorded better pain, heart rate and oxygen saturation levels in those who were played white noise and classical music.

From 2020-21, researchers from the Yuksek Ihtisas Education and Training Hospital and Sişli Hamidiye Training and Research Hospital divided 90 preterm babies into control, white noise and classical music groups. ROP babies played white noise during eye exams showed the lowest pain scores, while those played classical music scored best for oxygen saturation and peak heart rate, they said. “We think the frequent use of musical methods such as listening to white noise and classical music during painful interventions such as ROP examinations is effective in pain management and the regulation of physiologic parameters.” However, more randomised controlled trials are needed to confirm this, they said.