Starting in early 2015, doctors and specialists at Baylor Regional Medical Center will conduct a study to determine how recorded music affects a patient's pain level after surgery. The study will focus on adults suffering with spinal deformity and chronic pain, such as scoliosis and kyphosis, said George Brown, intensive care unit manager. While he said the study is still in the development stages, Brown is hopeful the study will begin Jan. 1.

The therapy program integrates a patient's choice of music through radio stations, CDs or streaming music from the Internet that is played throughout the recovery room after surgery in two-hour increments, three times per day. Doctors will monitor anxiety and pain levels to determine if music therapy eases pain and decreases the need for medication post-surgery.

Brown said this is the first study at Baylor Plano involving musical therapy, and that there is lack of research about the impact music can have on older adults with chronic back and spinal pain.

"We do get our 20- and 30-year-olds with spinal deformity, but a lot of our patients are in the 40- to 60-year-old range. We are trying to tailor to their pain perception," Brown said.

The study will sample about 70–80 patients at the hospital, and the study will last six months. Brown said if the study is successful, staff would like to expand patient-centered music therapy for all patients in the ICU.

Staff presented the study to the Baylor Research Council on Nov. 17 and will now go through the Institutional Review Board to ensure the study does not affect patients adversely.