Does music help reduce pain during colonoscopy screening?

This trial is testing whether playing background music during a colonoscopy can help reduce pain and anxiety. Colonoscopy is an important screening test for colorectal cancer and other bowel conditions, but many patients experience discomfort during the procedure. Researchers want to see if music—a simple, non-drug approach—might make the experience more comfortable.

Even with standard pain relief medicines, many people still feel significant pain or discomfort during colonoscopy, and fear of pain keeps some people from getting screened for colorectal cancer. While music has shown promise in other medical settings, previous studies on colonoscopy have had mixed results and weren't large enough to give clear answers.