Operating theatre teams should review the use of background music, study suggests
An analysis of video footage, taken during 20 operations, shows that some operating theatre teams are negatively affected by background music, during surgery.
Researchers suggest that the decision to play music during an operation should be made by the entire team, taking into account both the benefits and the risks.
The study suggests that communication within the theatre team can be impaired when music is playing. For instance, requests from a surgeon to a nurse for instruments or supplies were often repeated and there was qualitative evidence of frustration or tension within some of the teams.
Sharon-Marie Weldon, a lead author of the study from the Department of Surgery and Cancer at Imperial College London, said:
