Abstract
Although ICUs are an unusual and stressful environment for patients, the use of background music (BGM) may reduce their stress. However, there is not a sufficient number of studies that have clarified how nurses who hear the same BGM as patients do at the same time and same space feel BGM has impacts on patients and themselves. The present study aimed to examine nurses' views of the effects of BGM played in ICUs on patients and themselves. The subjects were ten ICU nurses, and semi-structured interviews with them were conducted. The effects on patients as viewed by the nurses were categorized into [Returning to daily life, and recovery of mind and body that BGM brings to the patients] and [Doubt or denial of effects on BGM on the patients]. The effects on nurses as viewed by themselves were classified into the following four categories: [Application of BGM to nursing care of the patients], [not feeling uneasy while BGM is played], [not feeling annoyed by BGM], and [expectations for the effects of BGM arising from patients' responses]. Relationships between patients and nurses facilitated by BGM were categorized into [interactions between patients and nurses promoted by BGM].
