Pain during hemodialysis is a common and clinically significant problem that negatively impacts patient comfort, treatment tolerance, and overall outcomes. Intradialytic pain has been associated with shortened or missed treatments, which are linked to increased hospitalization and mortality. Pharmacologic management is often limited due to altered drug clearance and an increased risk of adverse effects, highlighting the need for safe, non-pharmacologic interventions. The purpose of this quality improvement project is to examine whether the implementation of patient-selected music therapy during hemodialysis sessions reduces pain and improves treatment adherence among adult patients receiving maintenance hemodialysis. Current literature supports the effectiveness of music therapy in reducing pain and anxiety; however, limited research has evaluated its impact on treatment adherence. This project will implement a nurse-driven intervention in an outpatient hemodialysis setting. Following a 2-week baseline data collection period, eligible patients will be offered the option to listen to self-selected music during dialysis sessions over a 4-week intervention period. Pain will be measured using the Numeric Rating Scale (NRS), and treatment adherence will be evaluated by prescribed dialysis minutes completed, frequency of early treatment termination, and missed dialysis sessions. This intervention is anticipated to reduce pain levels, improve patient comfort, and increase treatment adherence, supporting the integration of patient-centered, non-pharmacologic strategies into routine dialysis care.
