Effectiveness of music therapy as a non pharmacological intervention on lowering blood pressure in the elderly with hypertension

Sucheera Yi Lim; Tian Winnie Ming

Authors

Sucheera Yi Lim Universitas Monash Malaysia, Malaysia
Tian Winnie Ming Universitas Monash Malaysia, Malaysia

Keywords:

Music Therapy, Elderly, Hypertension, Blood Pressure, Non-Pharmacological Interventions

Abstract

The study aimed to test the effectiveness of instrumental classical music therapy in lowering blood pressure in the elderly with hypertension. This study used a quasi-experimental design with a non-equivalent control group. A total of 40 elderly people with mild to moderate hypertension were divided into two groups: intervention (n=20) and control (n=20). The intervention group was given 30 minutes of instrumental classical music therapy daily for 14 days, while the control group did not receive similar treatment. Systolic and diastolic blood pressure data were collected before and after the intervention, and analyzed using paired t-test and independent t-test. The results showed a significant decrease in systolic blood pressure in the intervention group by −9.4 mmHg (p=0.004) and diastolic blood pressure by −6.1 mmHg (p=0.008). In contrast, the control group did not show a meaningful decline. Comparisons between groups showed significant differences in systolic (p=0.001) and diastolic (p=0.003) blood pressure, which confirmed the effectiveness of the intervention. Instrumental classical music therapy has been shown to be statistically and clinically effective in lowering systolic and diastolic blood pressure in the elderly with hypertension. This intervention deserves to be considered as a complementary approach in geriatric nursing practice and community hypertension management programs.

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