The use of a series of string quartet live music concert to reduce anxiety in first-year dental students

Abstract

The objective of this study was to investigate the use of live music concerts to reduce anxiety in first-year dental students at the University of Michigan School of Dentistry. University of Michigan dental students pose moderate to high anxiety, being the first-year dental students mostly affected. Music interventions are a well-established alternative approach to reduce anxiety in adult populations. First-year dental students volunteered to participate in this study. The baseline anxiety and post-concert anxiety levels were assessed using the STAI-6 questionnaire. All live concerts took place during regular course sessions. Students’ perceived experience with the live music concerts was also assessed. Our results demonstrated a significant anxiety reduction of 30% in first-year dental students. More importantly, live music concerts obtained an overwhelming 93% student approval rate. We conclude that music is a promising, feasible, cost-effective, fast acting and low-risk approach to reduce anxiety in first-year dental students.