Operating Theatre Staff: What are their perceptions about listening to music in the Theatre?

Abstract

Background: Music influences the mental state and emotions of clinicians and patients. Its benefits have been well-researched.  Listening to music routinely is not a practice in our institution’s theatres and less is known about its acceptability by theatre staff. The objective of the study was to assess the perception of theatre staff to music while working in the theatre.

Methods: This prospective study surveyed one hundred and seventy-two theatre staff at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital on the perceived effect of music in the operating theatre using a self-administered questionnaire.

Results: About 65% of respondents were males; over two-thirds were doctors. Obstetricians and gynaecologists constituted 30% of the surveyed doctors. Gospel music was the most preferred choice of music. Over half of the respondents agreed that listening to music had a positive effect on the outlook of surgery. All hospital theatre staff would likely recommend that music devices be installed in the common rooms of surgeons and nurses. (p<0.05).

Conclusion: Listening to music during surgery is beneficial however further studies are recommended.