Influence of musical preferences and intraoperative questions on suturing speed.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE\nTo determine the effect of music and surgeon-directed questions on suturing speed.\n\n\nSTUDY DESIGN\nRandomized observational study.\n\n\nSAMPLE POPULATION\nFifty-five faculty veterinarians, residents, interns, and fourth-year veterinary students.\n\n\nMETHODS\nExperience, gender, and favorable and unfavorable music choices were self-declared by participants. Each person performed four timed suture trials, which required them to complete a simple 10\xa0cm continuous suture pattern on a model. The initial trial served as practice and did not include music or questions. The order of the three remaining trials was randomized, and consisted of one trial each with favorable music, unfavorable music, and required the participant to answer 2 questions. Trial duration was compared using a mixed effects linear model. Influence of gender and experience on participants categorical responses to 2 different questions was evaluated using a Pearson χ2 test and Fisher s exact test, respectively. Stratified analysis was used to evaluate further the effect of experience and gender.\n\n\nRESULTS\nQuestion trials were on average 8.1\xa0s longer than favorable music trials (P\xa0=\xa0.008), with no notable difference found between unfavorable and favorable music or unfavorable music and question trials. Experience (P\xa0=\xa0.021) and gender (P\xa0=\xa0.033) influenced participants response to question 1 but not question 2 (P\xa0=\xa0.267 and P\u2009=\xa0.839, respectively).\n\n\nCONCLUSION\nListening to favorable music, rather than answering questions, may result in decreased closure times. This influence was greater for less experienced individuals and less experienced male veterinarians and veterinary students.\n\n\nCLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE\nThe absence of questions may increase suturing speed, particularly for minimally experienced surgeons or when instruction is taking place in a surgical laboratory setting.