Music in the Operating Room: Comparing the Opinions of Surgeons, Anesthesiologists, and Nurses

A boost to concentration or a distracting noise? A systematic review of surgeon and anaesthetist perspectives of the benefit of intra-operative music

BACKGROUND

The surgical team should be as harmonious and focussed as possible in the operating theatre. Whilst there is evidence of benefit for the use of music in the perioperative period for patient, little exists to inform of impact on those doing the surgery or anaesthesia. This review focuses on the perspectives of surgeons and anaesthetists, their views and opinions on the effect and impact of music during surgery.

METHODS

A systematic review was conducted using narrative synthesis. The PRISMA guidelines were followed with the use of PICO and PRISMA guided search strategy. PubMed, CINAHL and Medline were searched but filtered to only published English language papers.

RESULTS

Of 329 papers identified 42 duplicates were removed. 287 were screened; of which 276 were excluded and 11 sought for retrieval. Of these, 8 were excluded for wrong population or study design, leaving 3 for analysis. Narrative synthesis revealed three themes to guide discussion: (1) Views of surgeons and anaesthetists and the effect on music; (2) effect of music on other staff members; and (3) differences in music choices and balance of power.

CONCLUSION

Music has an overall beneficial effect on surgeons and anaesthetists, especially with regards improved concentration. As an intervention, it has global generalisability and requires little resource. Investigation across different surgical specialities and use of flexible control models in terms of choosing music is a natural subsequent research question.

Noise, Distractions, and Hazards in the Operating Room

Anesthesiologists are perioperative leaders of patient and health care team safety. The anesthesiologist needs to remain vigilant in the perioperative setting and while caring for patients. The ability to navigate increased noise levels, distractions, and hazards is crucial for maintaining a safe environment. While some noise, such as music, can have benefits, overall noise levels can distract from patient care and have adverse effects on patient care and intraoperative staff. This study provides an overview of noise, distractions, and hazards in the perioperative environment.

Can Music Reduce Stress and Anxiety in the Operating Room Team? Insights from a Cross-Sectional Study in Northern Italy Healthcare Services

BACKGROUND

Music evokes positive emotions and reduces stress and anxiety. Operating room (OR) staff face various challenges which can lead to high levels of stress. The aim of the study is to assess whether listening to music during intraoperative phases improves the work environment by reducing anxiety and stress in the entire surgical team.

METHODS

A prospective observational study was conducted from February to September 2023, involving medical personnel, nursing staff, and nursing students. They were divided into two groups: Group 1 with music during surgical procedures, and Group 2 without music. Participants were administered two validated instruments: the Zung Anxiety Self-Assessment Scale (SAS) to measure anxiety, and the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule to assess emotions generating stress. Additional items were included for demographics, job satisfaction, and the organization method.

RESULTS

Music did not impact anxiety, but increased positive emotions while reducing negative ones. Music had an ancillary effect, highlighting the need for significant organizational interventions aimed at increasing operator satisfaction, including offering voluntary instead of mandatory assignments to nursing staff.

CONCLUSIONS

Music appears to reduce stress in the intraoperative team when supported by a positive work environment in which assigned operators have chosen to work in the OR.