THE EFFECT OF SHEILA ON 7 PLAYLIST-BASED MUSIC THERAPY ON SYSTOLIC AND DIASTOLIC BLOOD PRESSURE IN PATIENTS WITH HYPERTENSION: A QUASI-EXPERIMENTAL STUDY

Abstract

Background: Hypertension remains one of the leading causes of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality worldwide. Although pharmacological therapy remains the cornerstone of hypertension management, safe, culturally appropriate, and evidence-based complementary nursing interventions are increasingly needed. However, evidence regarding culturally familiar playlist-based music therapy using Indonesian popular music remains limited. Objective: This study aimed to examine the effect of Sheila On 7 playlist-based music therapy on systolic and diastolic blood pressure among patients with hypertension. Methods: A quasi-experimental pretest–posttest control group study was conducted involving 60 patients with hypertension recruited through purposive sampling from primary healthcare centers in Karanganyar Regency, Indonesia. Participants were allocated to either an intervention group receiving Sheila On 7 playlist-based music therapy in addition to routine hypertension care or a control group receiving routine care alone. The intervention was administered for 20 minutes daily over 14 consecutive days. The primary outcomes were systolic and diastolic blood pressure measured using a calibrated digital sphygmomanometer. Data were analyzed using paired and independent t-tests and analysis of covariance. Results: Participants receiving Sheila On 7 playlist-based music therapy experienced significantly greater reductions in systolic and diastolic blood pressure than those receiving routine hypertension care alone. After adjustment for baseline blood pressure, the intervention remained significantly associated with improved blood pressure control (both p < 0.001), demonstrating a clinically meaningful effect of culturally familiar preferred music therapy. Conclusion: Sheila On 7 playlist-based music therapy is an effective complementary nursing intervention for reducing systolic and diastolic blood pressure among patients with hypertension. The findings support the integration of culturally familiar preferred music into evidence-based nursing practice to strengthen holistic, patient-centered hypertension management across clinical and community healthcare settings.