Can music help reduce anxiety in healthcare workers during COVID-19?

This trial is testing whether music therapy can help reduce anxiety in nurses and midwives who work on the front lines during the COVID-19 pandemic. Researchers will have some healthcare workers listen to their choice of four types of music—classical, Turkish classical, Turkish folk, or Sufi music—for 15 minutes daily over 5 days, while others receive no special intervention. The study will measure anxiety levels before and after the music listening period to see if the music helps.

Healthcare workers have reported very high levels of anxiety and stress during the COVID-19 pandemic because they face constant exposure to sick patients, fear of infection, and worry about their families. Research shows that music can reduce anxiety and stress, but very few studies have tested this in healthcare workers, so this trial aims to fill that gap.