Premature infants in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) commonly undergo invasive and painful procedures, which can elicit a stress response as indicated by physiological and behavioural parameters. Music is increasingly being employed in neonatal units to improve behavioural or physiological outcomes, or to manage pain during common procedures. However, research is limited in this domain. The purpose of this research study is to further investigate, and evaluate, the potential benefit of music in this clinical context. Participants response will be measured according to the level of stress hormone (cortisol) present in their saliva before and after routine blood work. Each participant will be tested on two consecutive occasions, on one of which they will be exposed to a musical intervention for the duration of the procedure. This will consist of an extract of recorded lullaby music delivered according to guidelines outlined by the American Academy of Paediatrics. The study will aim to answer the question “Does music influence neonatal stress response to routine blood work, as measured by salivary cortisol levels pre- and post-procedure?”
It is intended that this study will contribute further to this growing research domain, and yield insight into the value of music as an intervention in the NICU.