Music as a Nonpharmacologic Approach to Pain Control With Intrauterine Device Placement

This is a prospective, two-center, randomized controlled trial evaluating whether music reduces pain and improves satisfaction during IUD insertion. Computer-generated randomization assignments will allocate subjects to either music or standard protocol groups. 40 music and 40 control designations will be allocated to both sites, and all designations will be block-stratified into 10 blocks, each containing 4 controls and 4 intervention (music) subjects. This will ensure there are close to equal numbers of subjects in both groups if recruitment is halted before the minimum of 80 patients are enrolled. Assignments are available in a read-only document accessible by all co-investigators at the time of enrollment and randomization.

Subjects randomized to the music group will choose 10 songs, which will be played during the procedure, from the time of positioning through completion of IUD insertion and speculum removal. Music may be played through a portable speaker in close proximity to the patient or through the patient's own headphones, if preferred. Both control and music groups will otherwise undergo the same standard anticipatory guidance and protocol for IUD insertion in an outpatient clinic setting. Total participation is predicted to last approximately 30 minutes, as is standard for an appointment for IUD insertion. Study subjects will not interact with other participants.

Patients in both control and intervention groups will undergo intrauterine device (IUD) insertion. Pain will be assessed using a 100-mm visual analog scale (VAS) at 8 points during the procedure, including: (1) anticipated pain, (2) baseline pain prior to IUD insertion, (3) after speculum placement, (4) on tenaculum application, (5) on uterine sounding, (6) at IUD insertion, (7) after speculum removal, and (8) 5 minutes following the procedure. Patients will also answer a brief 5-question satisfaction survey following IUD insertion. Pain scores will be measured and compared between music and control groups to assess the primary and secondary outcomes of this study.

VAS scores will be recorded by the attending physician or co-investigator, as they will reliably note when each step of the procedure occurs and pain should be assessed. They will present the 100mm visual analog scale (VAS) to the patient at each of the 8 points of the procedure, and the patient will mark their pain score. Scores will be measured and documented by a single co-investigator to eliminate bias or differences in measurement.

VAS scores will be analyzed separately for each of the 8 distinct points described during the IUD insertion procedure. Differences between the intervention (music) and control groups will be assessed using a 0.05 level Wilcoxon ranksum test. A significant difference in pain will be noted if at least a 20 mm difference in VAS pain score exists between the two groups at any point of the procedure when VAS score is collected.