Personalized Music, Dreaming During Propofol Sedation
South Korea300 participantsStarted 2026-06-24
Plain-language summary
This randomized clinical trial will evaluate whether music delivered through closed-back headphones during intravenous propofol sedation affects dreaming and the overall sedation experience. Adults scheduled for elective procedures under spinal anesthesia or peripheral nerve block with propofol sedation will be randomly assigned to one of three groups: patient-selected preferred music, matched non-preferred music, or silence with identical headphones.
The main purpose of the study is to determine whether listening to music increases the occurrence of dream recall compared with silence, and whether personally preferred music makes recalled dreams more pleasant than matched non-preferred music. Dream recall and dream pleasantness will be assessed after recovery using a standardized interview. The study will also evaluate dream content, patient satisfaction, sedative and opioid requirements, hemodynamic variability, postoperative pain, nausea and vomiting, recovery time, and adverse events.
This study is intended to determine whether a simple, low-cost headphone-based music intervention can improve patient-centered quality of propofol sedation without compromising safety.
Who can participate
Age range
19 Years
Sex
ALL
See this in plain English?
AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.
Inclusion Criteria:
* Adults aged 19 years or older.
* Scheduled to undergo an elective procedure under spinal anesthesia or peripheral nerve block with intravenous propofol sedation.
* American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status I to III.
* Able to provide written informed consent.
* Able to wear closed-back headphones during the study period.
* Able to complete postoperative interviews and study questionnaires.
Exclusion Criteria:
* Planned general anesthesia.
* Severe hearing impairment that would interfere with the auditory intervention.
* Major psychiatric instability or condition that may interfere with study participation or dream assessment.
* Expected significant intraoperative bleeding.
* Inability to complete the required postoperative interviews or questionnaires.
* Contraindication to propofol or other study sedative agents.
* Refusal or withdrawal of informed consent.
Questions worth asking your doctor
Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.
1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?
Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.
Questions for the trial coordinator
The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.
1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?
A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.
What they're measuring
1
Dream Incidence
Timeframe: At first adequate recovery of consciousness in the post-anesthesia care unit, up to 60 minutes after PACU arrival
2
Dream Pleasantness
Timeframe: At first adequate recovery of consciousness in the post-anesthesia care unit, up to 60 minutes after PACU arrival