Objective:

To evaluate the impact of background music and multimedia, specifically calming aquatic and ocean imagery, on patient anxiety in ophthalmology waiting rooms.

Key Findings:

• Mean anxiety scores were significantly lower in the music-only (3.59) and multimedia (3.74) groups compared to the no-media group (5.69), with moderate effect sizes (Cohen’s d = 0.65–0.70).
• Multimedia exposure was associated with higher satisfaction scores compared to both no media and music alone, although effect sizes for satisfaction were small.
• Patients aged 65 years and older reported more consistent benefits from both interventions, indicating a potential age-related effect.

Interpretation:

Auditory input alone can significantly reduce anxiety, while multimedia environments may enhance patient satisfaction and perceived helpfulness.

Limitations:

• The study used pseudo-randomized allocation rather than individual patient randomization, which may affect the validity of the findings.
• No statistical adjustments were made for clustering by clinic day, which could influence results.
• Patients were aware of the waiting-room condition, introducing potential bias in self-reported outcomes.
• Individual wait times and exposure duration were not recorded, leaving uncertainty about their impact on anxiety scores.
• Outcomes were limited to self-reported measures without physiological assessments, which could provide a more comprehensive understanding of anxiety.

Conclusion:

The findings suggest that implementing music and multimedia in waiting rooms can improve patient experience, but further research is needed to establish causality and address the limitations identified.