Music in operating room may improve ophthalmology residents’ comfort, performance
KIAWAH ISLAND, S.C. — Music can improve the experience of surgeons, especially residents, in the operating room, according to a study presented at Kiawah Eye.
“I feel that [music] can really be used in the future when teaching residents,” Cecilia A. Hernandez, MD, a senior resident at the Medical University of South Carolina Storm Eye Institute, said.
Several studies have investigated music and its influence in the OR and mostly found beneficial effects. Mozart’s music in particular was found to improve spatial reasoning, which may lead to improved surgical skills. Specifically in ophthalmology, in a study with surgical simulators, a trend for improvement was found on the total score and roundness of the capsulorrhexis when participants, especially residents, listened to Mozart.
Hernandez surveyed residents and attendings/fellows at Storm Eye as well as ophthalmic surgeons in a private practice. She received 40 responses: nine from private practice, 12 from residents and 19 from attendings/fellows. The majority of respondents (95%) liked or did not mind music during surgery. Most preferred pop/dance music (38.7%), followed by rock (22.6%), jazz/classical (16.1%), alternative/folk (12.9%) and country (9.7%). Most respondents disliked heavy metal/hard rock (62.5%) and music that was generally perceived as aggressive.
“One hundred percent of residents felt that their comfort in the OR was improved by having music on ... and even 60% of attendings. ... Fifty-eight percent of residents reported that they felt it helped their performance compared to 28% of attendings.” Hernandez said. “To me that shows that, for resident education purposes, music does help. It helps perceived performance and comfort.”
Future projects could randomize music vs. no music in the OR with attendings evaluating whether residents perform better with or without music, possibly differentiating between genres, she said.
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Hernandez CA. Music and its influence in the ophthalmic operating room. Presented at: Kiawah Eye; May 30-June 1, 2024; Kiawah Island, South Carolina.
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