The Effect of Jazz on Postoperative Pain and Stress in Patients Undergoing Elective Hysterectomy

Patients will be identified the morning of surgery from the operating room schedule. The patients will be randomized to two groups: jazz music or no music. Head phones will be applied to all patients included in the study; in one group jazz music will be provided through the headphones. The second group no music will be played. Blood pressure will be monitored by a non-invasive blood pressure cuff at 5 minute intervals throughout the patient's stay in the PACU. Heart rate will be measured, using a pulse oximeter, at the same intervals as blood pressure. Before the patient leaves the PACU, she will be asked to rate her perception of her levels of pain and anxiety on scales that use a numeric scale of 1-10. The primary variable outcomes are: heart rate and mean blood pressure. Secondary outcomes include: perceived pain, anxiety, and level of relaxation. headphones will be used to deliver one of the following sounds to the patients: 1) jazz music (BPM<100) by artists including Miles Davis, Ella Fitzgerald, Diana Krall, Dave Brubeck, etc.; or 2) no music providing.