Influence of musical preferences and intraoperative questions on suturing speed

Abstract

To determine the effect of music and surgeon-directed questions on suturing speed. Study design: Randomized observational study.Sample population: Fifty-five faculty veterinarians, residents, interns, and fourth-year veterinary students. Methods: Experience, 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 cm 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 χ 2 test and Fisher's exact test, respectively. Stratified analysis was used to evaluate further the effect of experience and gender.Results: Question trials were on average 8.1 s longer than favorable music trials (P = .008), with no notable difference found between unfavorable and favorable music or unfavorable music and question trials. Experience (P = .021) and gender (P = .033) influenced participants' response to question 1 but not question 2 (P = .267 and P = .839, respectively). Conclusion: Listening 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.Clinical significance: The absence of questions may increase suturing speed, particularly for minimally experienced surgeons or when instruction is taking place in a surgical laboratory setting.