Perceptions on music and noise in the operating room: a cross-sectional study

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Management
• Surgical Safety
• Audiology

Background:

• Operating room (OR) noise can negatively impact healthcare professionals and patient safety.
• Noise sources in the OR are diverse and depend on the surgical procedure.
• Understanding staff perceptions of OR noise, including music, is crucial for improving the surgical environment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate operating room staff perceptions of noise.
• To determine if music is perceived as noise within the OR.
• To assess the perceived effects of noise and music on OR personnel.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative interviews were conducted with surgeons, anesthesiologists, residents, and nurses.
• Objective noise-level data were collected using iPads in ORs.
• Statistical analysis (p=0.02) examined the relationship between staff role and perceived noise effects.

Main Results:

• 60.5% of participants reported OR noise, and 25% reported music.
• Measured noise levels ranged from 59.52 to 85.60 dB(A).
• Significant differences (p=0.02) were found in perceived noise effects based on staff role.

Conclusions:

• Surgeons, often selecting the music, tended to have positive perceptions of its effects.
• Anesthesiologists and nurses were more likely to perceive music as noise, particularly when they had no control over its selection.
• Addressing staff preferences and control over auditory environments in ORs is important for mitigating negative impacts.