The Impact of Music on Patients’ Well-Being in Waiting Rooms; In a Healthcare Environment

Abstract

Background. The acoustic environment in healthcare waiting rooms may influence patients’ emotional experiences and perceived levels of stress and anxiety before healthcare appointments. Previous research has shown that ambient sound, music, and soundscape perception may affect anxiety, comfort, and the overall healthcare experience. However, there is still limited research comparing different types of sound environments in real waiting room settings. Aim. The aim of this study was to investigate how different sound environments in healthcare waiting rooms influence patients perceived stress and anxiety levels. Method. The study was conducted in a real healthcare waiting room at Nötkärnan healthcare center in Gothenburg, Sweden. A quantitative design was applied using a two-part questionnaire based on the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory short form (STAI-6), together with self-reported measures of stress, anxiety, and perception of the sound environment. A total of 205 participants were included and distributed across five sound environments: No Sound, Pink Noise, Classical Music, Nature Sound, and Neutral Music. Statistical analyses included paired T-tests, one-way ANOVA, Tukey HSD post hoc analysis, and descriptive statistics, with Wilcoxon signed-rank tests and a Kruskal Wallis test conducted as non-parametric robustness checks. Results. The results showed that the No Sound environment resulted in increased STAI 6 scores post exposure. In contrast, all introduced sound environments showed tendencies toward reduced stress and anxiety levels. Nature Sound produced the largest reduction in STAI-6 scores and, together with Classical Music, showed statistically significant reductions. Pink Noise showed a smaller positive effect, while Neutral Music demonstrated the weakest effect among the introduced sound environments. Conclusion. The findings indicate that sound environments in healthcare waiting rooms may influence patients’ emotional experiences and perceived stress and anxiety levels. In particular, natural sounds appeared to have the strongest potential for contributing to calmer and more restorative healthcare waiting room environments in this study. The study highlights the importance of considering soundscape perspectives and acoustic design as part of future healthcare environments.