Noise, Hearing, and Communication in the Operating Room: A Mixed-Methods Study
Sarah E Hughes1, Milisa Manojlovich2, Eunice Y Lee3
1University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA.
Summary
Operating room noise significantly impacts communication, with 80% of staff reporting hearing difficulties. Strategies are needed to address these barriers and improve teamwork in surgical environments.
Area of Science:
- Healthcare Management
- Surgical Safety
- Audiology
Background:
- Operating room (OR) environments present unique challenges to effective communication.
- Noise pollution is a significant, yet often underestimated, factor affecting auditory perception and information exchange in the OR.
- Understanding these communication barriers is crucial for patient safety and team performance.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the prevalence and nature of noise-related communication barriers in the operating room.
- To identify common coping strategies employed by OR personnel.
- To explore preferences for interventions aimed at mitigating these barriers.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional, mixed-methods survey was conducted at a tertiary academic medical center.
- An anonymous electronic survey assessed hearing difficulties, communication barriers, and coping strategies among diverse OR personnel.
- Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and logistic regression, while qualitative data underwent thematic analysis.
Main Results:
- 80.4% of 225 respondents reported hearing difficulties in the OR, with 14.7% experiencing them in every case.
- Personnel with ≥5 years of OR exposure had higher odds of diagnosed hearing loss.
- Communication was most challenging during orthopedic procedures, with environmental noise (suction, drills, music, alarms) and robotic surgery frequently cited as issues.
Conclusions:
- Noise-induced hearing and communication challenges are pervasive across all operating room roles.
- Self-accommodations like repetition and environmental adjustments are common but insufficient.
- Further interventional studies are required to assess acoustic, cultural, and technological strategies for improving OR communication and teamwork.
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