The benefits of playing music in a waiting room

For many people, a doctor or dentist’s waiting-room can be an anxious and uncomfortable experience often compounded by tedium.  Some postpone the appointment for as long as possible to avoid the discomfort.

Magazines, neutral wall colours and the occasional pot plant are the standard devices used to make patients feel more comfortable. One of the most effective strategies is to play background music that people like – it stimulates the brain to release mood-changing chemicals that have a subconscious impact upon behaviour.

In July 2008 the Guardian published an article in which an eye surgeon in Hawaii reported the results of a study where live music was played to patients in the “preoperative holding area”. Their heart rates, blood pressure and respiratory rates were measured against a control group of patients that were not played any music. The results were compelling – those in the non-music group showed an increase in heart rate and other signs of anxiety while patients exposed to music exhibited beneficial decreases.

Further evidence is provided by a large-scale research study undertaken in the UK in 2009. The study involved interviews with 2,000 people and was conducted by Entertainment Media Research, an independent market research company.  What they found was 66% of patients like to listen to music in waiting rooms. Of those, almost 3 out of 4 (74%) felt less nervous when waiting room music was played and almost 9 in 10 (86%) said it makes them feel more relaxed. Interestingly, the research found that females were slightly more positive but there were no differences by age which indicates that older people are just as likely to respond to music in waiting rooms as younger people.

Obviously, the actual selection of music is something which needs to be considered given the normal mix of ages and cultures to be found in these environments but there’s no doubting the beneficial impact for both patient and doctor when it happens.