PERCEPTION OF ANESTHESIA, SURGERY DOCTORS AND OPERATING THEATRE STAFF ABOUT MUSIC IN OPERATING ROOM

Abstract

OBJECTIVE

To assess the perception of anaesthesia, surgery doctors and operation theatre staff about music in the operating room at Indus Hospital Karachi.

STUDY DESIGN

Cross-sectional 

PLACE OF DURATION OF THE STUDY

This research was executed at the Operation Theatre Complex of Indus Hospital, Karachi from

31^st July 2023 to 30^th July 2024

METHODOLOGY

A total of 94 participants aged 20–45 years, including anaesthesia and surgery doctors and operation theatre technicians with ≥1 year experience, were recruited through non-probability consecutive sampling. Perceptions regarding music were assessed using a 10-item Likert scale questionnaire. Data were analysed using frequencies, percentages, mean and Chi-square and independent t-tests (p≤0.05).

RESULT

The mean age was 30.76 ± 6.56 years, with 58 (61.7%) males. Most reported positive perceptions, with 51 (54.2%) agreeing music improved work enjoyment, while 55 (58.5%) reported impaired communication and 56 (59.6%) increased noise. No significant gender differences in perceptions (p>0.05), except higher male experience (5.10 ± 4.24 vs 3.44 ± 2.64 years; p=0.038).

CONCLUSION

The perceptions of operating theatre staff regarding intraoperative music were mixed, reflecting both improved work experience and potential impairment in communication and increased background noise. These findings have important implications for patient safety and team dynamics. Institutions should adopt context-specific guidelines for music use rather than a uniform approach. Further multi-centre studies with objective measures of communication and performance are needed to strengthen the evidence base