Background music in operating theatres may pose danger

Listening to music in the operating theatre may not be as beneficial as thought, with evidence of loud dance or drum’n’bass music being played during procedures, health experts have said.

Research published in the Journal of Advanced Nursing said communication between surgeons and nurses can be impaired when music is playing.

Surgical teams were filmed carrying out procedures to analyse the effects of music being played, and found requests from surgeons to nurses for instruments or supplies were often repeated, while there was evidence of frustration or tension within some of the teams.

Video recordings from multiple cameras placed at strategic points gave researchers an insight into the verbal and non-verbal communications between clinicians as operations were carried out. Twenty operations lasting a total of 35 hours were analysed, 70% of which had music playing.

They found that how the music was played and controlled was important too. If playback volume from digital sources was not standardised, there could be sudden increases in volume between tracks. Sometimes staff turned up a popular song, again leading to a sudden increase in volume that could mask instructions and other verbal communications.

Researchers suggested the decision to play music during an operation should be made by the entire team, taking into account both the benefits and the risks.

Co-lead author Sharon-Marie Weldon, from the department of surgery and cancer at Imperial College London (ICL), said: “Music can be helpful to staff working in operating theatres where there is often a lot of background noise, as well as other distractions – it can improve concentration.

“That said, we’d like to see a more considered approach, with much more discussion or negotiation over whether music is played, the type of music, and volume, within the operating teams.”

Background music in operating theatres may pose danger

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