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

Tessa Lamberton; Christian de Virgilio; James Terrell; Ashkan Moazzez; Kristen Combs; Revati Nafday; Daniel Salazar; Tajnoos Yazdany; Colonya Calhoun; Amy Yetasook

doi:10.1177/00031348221142578

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

Am Surg. 2023 Dec;89(12):5234-5239. doi: 10.1177/00031348221142578. Epub 2022 Nov 30.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Department of Surgery, Harbor-UCLA (University of California, Los Angeles) Medical Center, Torrance, CA, USA.
² The Lundquist Institute at Harbor-UCLA (University of California, Los Angeles) Medical Center, Torrance, CA, USA.
³ Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Harbor-UCLA (University of California, Los Angeles), Medical Center, Torrance, CA, USA.
⁴ Department of Anesthesiology, Harbor-UCLA (University of California, Los Angeles), Medical Center, Torrance, CA, USA.
⁵ Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Harbor-UCLA (University of California, Los Angeles), Medical Center, Torrance, CA, USA.
⁶ Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Harbor-UCLA (University of California, Los Angeles), Medical Center, Torrance, CA, USA.

PMID: 36450161
DOI: 10.1177/00031348221142578

Abstract

Background: Music is part of operating room (OR) culture; however, some personnel may perceive music as a distraction.

Methods: A single institution survey of surgeons (SURG), anesthesia (ANES), and nursing (NURS) regarding attitudes on music in the OR.

Results: There were 222 responses (67% response rate) agreeing that music in the OR should be allowed (91%), is calming (75%), and helps with focus (63%). Most did not feel music was distracting (63%) or unsafe (80%). SURG were more likely to state that surgeons should decide (46.7%) if music should be played, whereas ANES and NURS (81%) were more likely to feel decisions should be made collaboratively (P < .001).

Conclusion: Most OR personnel feel positively towards music. Surgeons were more likely to believe the decision to play music should be the surgeon's choice. The majority of OR staff agreed with collaborative decision-making, aligning with creating a safe OR culture.

Keywords: Anesthesia; Communication; General Surgery; Music; Operating Room.

MeSH terms

Anesthesiologists
Attitude of Health Personnel
Humans
Music*
Operating Rooms
Surgeons*