Effect of patient mobilization using nature sounds on anxiety, pain, and stress levels after laparoscopic cholecystectomy: a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND

Early postoperative mobilization is a critical recovery stage, often associated with heightened pain and stress. In this context, non-pharmacological interventions are essential to alleviate these responses. This study investigated the effect of listening to nature sounds during the first postoperative mobilization on anxiety, pain, and stress levels in patients who underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

METHODS

This prospective randomized controlled trial (NCT06848777) was conducted with 70 patients in the general surgery ward of a district state hospital in Antalya, Türkiye. Patients were randomly assigned to either the intervention (35 patients) or control group (35 patients). Assessments were performed before (E1) and after (E2) the first mobilization. Patients in the intervention group listened to nature sounds during mobilization, while the control group received the standard care. Anxiety was measured using the Visual Analog Scale for Anxiety (VAS-A), pain with the Visual Analog Scale (VAS), and stress levels were evaluated via a wearable smart wristband.

RESULTS

At E2 stage, the intervention group showed significantly lower anxiety, pain, and stress scores compared to controls. A strong negative correlation was found between group assignment and changes in these measures, while a weak positive correlation was observed between surgical history and outcome changes. In a multivariate regression model controlling for surgical history, the intervention group remained significantly and negatively associated with anxiety, pain, and stress.

CONCLUSIONS

Listening to nature sounds during early mobilization following laparoscopic cholecystectomy significantly reduced patients' anxiety, pain, and stress. This easy-to-implement and low-cost non-pharmacological intervention is recommended for integration into nursing care during postoperative mobilization.

CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: The study was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (No: NCT06848777) which is available at https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT06848777?intr=Nature%20Sounds&page=2&rank=18&ta .