Feasibility of Music Therapy for Spontaneous Breathing Trials

Feasibility of Live, Receptive Music Therapy for Patients Undergoing Spontaneous Breathing Trials: A Pilot Study

In this study, the investigators will study music therapy for patients during breathing trials, a procedure performed in intensive care units. Participants will be assigned either to standard medical care or standard medical care plus music therapy. Participants have a 50/50 chance (like flipping a coin) of being in either group. In the music therapy group, a board-certified music therapist will sing softly with guitar accompaniment to provide music during the breathing trial. The music is in addition to the usual treatment provided by hospital staff. Participants in the standard medical care group will receive the usual medical care given by hospital staff members. Information will be collected from participant's charts and by observation of vital signs during the breathing trial.

If the participant is randomly assigned to standard care plus music therapy, a music therapist will enter the room five minutes prior to the start of the breathing trial and begin to play quiet music on a guitar. The nurse will reduce medicine to bring the participant to an alert state. The music therapist will introduce themselves and the music intervention, and will continue to play quiet guitar music and sing softly while the respiratory therapist begins the breathing trial. The music therapist will continue playing and singing for 20 minutes into the breathing trial.

The patient's nurse will reduce sedatives so the patient is alert and awake. The respiratory therapist will introduce themselves to the patient and inform them of the SBT, stating they will turn off the ventilator machine and allow the patient to breathe independently. The respiratory therapist will switch off the ventilator and leave the room. The respiratory therapist and nurse will both be available throughout the SBT, and the ventilator will automatically turn on if the patient stops breathing. The SBT will last for 30-60 minutes.

A successful SBT is defined as when a patient sustains at least 30 minutes without mechanical ventilator support, as deemed by the respiratory therapist in the participant's chart. A failed SBT is defined as when a patient requires mechanical ventilator support within 30 minutes of the start of the SBT, as deemed by the respiratory therapist.

Total minutes sustained off ventilator support, as noted by respiratory therapist in the participant's chart.

Recording of patient's respiratory rate via observation of monitor at three points throughout the SBT

Mean score of agitation as assessed by the Richmond Agitation-Sedation Scale at points throughout SBT

4 Combative- Overtly combative, violent, immediate danger to staff 3 Very agitated- Pulls or removes tube(s) or catheter(s); aggressive 2 Agitated- Frequent non-purposeful movement, fights ventilator 1 Restless- Anxious but movements not aggressive vigorous 0 Alert and calm 1 Drowsy- Not fully alert, but has sustained awakening (eye opening/contact) to voice (>10 seconds) 2 Light sedation- Briefly awakens with eye contact to voice (<10 seconds) 3 Moderate sedation- Movement or eye opening to voice (but no eye contact) 4 Deep sedation- No response to voice, but movement or eye opening to physical stimulation 5 Unarousable- No response to voice or physical stimulation

Inclusion Criteria: Adults 18+ Admitted to MUSC's Main Hospital medical intensive care unit (MICU) or Ashley River Tower medical-surgical intensive care unit (MSICU) Intubated and will undergo a spontaneous breathing trial Exclusion Criteria: Patients who have had any prior SBTs Patients known to have a neurological injury Patients who are known to be deaf Patients whom (or whose LAR) are unable or unwilling to give informed consent.

All collected individual participant data (IPD) may be shared with researchers at Appalachian State University where data analysis will occur, as the PI is currently a graduate student at that institution. Only de-identified data will go to App State; no protected health information (PHI) will leave Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC). De-identified data may be published as a master's thesis or in academic journals.

IPD will be shared with the PI's academic advisor for analysis of results with the purpose of writing a master's thesis paper.