ABSTRACT
Several studies indicate that music has soothing effects and is beneficial in reducing stress and anxiety in coronary patients. It is known that reactions to music are considered to be subjective, however, results of previous studies suggest that variables such as changes in heart rate, in cerebral blood flow and heart rate variability increase with a faster musical tempo, regardless of individual preferences. The effects of stress on the cardiovascular system have also been proven. However, the meanings assigned to music when used during hemodynamic procedures are unknown, as are the meanings of the experience of these procedures. The aim of this research is to understand the senses and feelings of music for patients undergoing hemodynamic procedures, identify and interpret the related fantasies and emotions and study the possibility of deploying in hospitals the “Musical Method for Hemodynamic Procedures”, being developed by the author. This research is based on a Clinical-Qualitative Methodology. The sampling method is the theoretical saturation. The semi structured interview was used in order to obtain data that were submitted to content analysis. The subjects are patients undergoing hemodynamic procedures in the Hospital SEMPER (Permanent Medical Service), Belo Horizonte, Brazil. We conclude that within the experience of listening to music while undergoing catheterization, 100% of the patients interviewed claimed they had overcome the experience of stress and felt calm, tranquility, peace and happiness. Some patients described the music as a companion, as something that diverts their attention from fear, transporting them to an imaginary place, to another dimension. The episodic memory, the capacity to recognize a musical excerpt for which the spatiotemporal context surrounding its former encounter could be recalled, was also important, with surprising results, in the case of patients who underwent catheterization in the presence of music and, later, angioplasty without the presence of music.