The study, which was conducted in a Level III neonatal intensive care unit in the southeastern United States, evaluated twenty-four premature infants aged 32 to 40 weeks on the effects of music therapy to reduce inconsolability. crying episodes. In addition to inconsolable crying, heart rate, respiratory rate, oxygen saturation and mean blood pressure were also measured. Two groups were randomly assigned to the study, which took place over a four-day period. Group A was exposed to lullaby music and received standard nursing interventions on days one and three, and group B was exposed to both interventions on days two and four. Alternating days for each group included only standard nursing interventions. Duration of inconsolable crying and physiological data were observed, measured, and recorded using a research design tool. On days when music therapy was incorporated, infants were about three times less inconsolable, with episodes lasting about 18 minutes less per day than on days without music exposure. Physiological measures were also improved for days when infants listened to music compared to days when they did not. The results of this quantitative study are useful in showing the difference music therapy makes on inconsolable preterm infants, as well as the improved physiological measures documented. The study was somewhat limited due to the small number of participants, but it showed evidence within this small group that music intervention did indeed make a difference in these infants. Additionally, the study did not implement specific standard nursing interventions for each nurse/infant, but rather was tailored to the needs of the child, which brings some variability to the experience... ... middle of paper. ....d music therapy which could limit the results. The research study was helpful to the PICO question because it evaluated several studies on the effect of music therapy on premature infants and showed an increase in physiological measures. However, the weight gain results in the infants studied were not significant. Works Cited Standley, J. (2012). Music therapy research in the NICU: an updated meta-analysis. Neonatal Network,31(5), 311-316. doi: 10.1891/0730-0832.31.5.311Lubetzky, R., Mimouni, F., Dollberg, S., Reifen, R., Ashbel, G., and Mandel, D. (2010). Effect of Mozart's music on the energy expenditure of growing premature infants. Pediatrics, 125(1), e24-8. doi:10.1542/peds.2009-0990 Keith, D., Russell, K., & Weaver, B. (2009). The effects of listening to music on inconsolable crying in premature infants. Music Therapy Journal, 46(3), 191-203.