Effects of music listening and music video interventions on sleep quality in adults with sleep disturbances

INTERVENTION: A randomized controlled trial was performed on 71 adults who were recruited from the outpatient department of a hospital with 1100 beds. After collecting baseline data, participants were randomly assigned to the control, music, and music video groups. The random allocation sequence was consecutively numbered for the participants and sealed, opaque envelopes determining groups were generated using a random number generator (Microsoft Excel) by a statistician. The statistician was not involved in the rest of the study. The interventions consisted of listening to Buddhist music or watching Buddhist‐related music videos (MVs). Both music and MV interventions have positive effects on sleep quality in elderly adults with insomnia. The music had tempos ranging from 60 to 80 beats/min, while the musical tempos of MV ranged from 60 to 85 beats/min. Both of the music and MV used in this study had minor tonalities, and smooth melodies to achieve a deep relaxing effect. The research team members included a physician, registered nurses, and a musician. After collecting pretest sleep parameters on the first night (Day 1), the two music interventions were implemented on 4 consecutive nights (Days 2–5). On Day 6, no music or MV intervention was administered to evaluate the persistent effects on sleep parameters. Participants in the music group listened to Buddhist music during the 4 test days (Days 2–5) for 30 min before nocturnal sleep. Participants in the MV group watched Buddhist music videos during the 4 test days (Days 2–5), for 30 min before nocturnal sleep. The participants in the music and the MV groups were instructed to not listen/watch to the music/MV on the first night (pretest, Day 1) and the final night (Day 6). The control group received no music and no MV intervention. Sleep was assessed using a one‐channel electroencephalography machine in the participants’ homes and self‐reported questionnaires. CONDITION: Sleep disturbances ; Nervous System Diseases ; Sleep disorders PRIMARY OUTCOME: Objective sleep quality, measured by electroencephalography at baseline (Day 1), Day 2, Day 3, Day 4, Day 5, and Day 6 SECONDARY OUTCOME: Subjective sleep quality, measured by self‐reported questionnaire at baseline (Day 1), Day 2, Day 3, Day 4, Day 5 and Day 6 INCLUSION CRITERIA: 1. Have experienced sleep disturbances, defined as Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) > 5, sleep onset latency (SOL) > 30 min, wake time after sleep onset (WASO) > 30 min, or total sleep time (TST) = 6.5 h 2. Aged = 20 years