Author: MIL-OSI Publisher

Surgeons’ music choices can shape how teams feel and work, new research from the University of Auckland shows.

The study, published in Scientific Reports, reveals that different sounds can bring teams together or create tension, boost confidence or distract, and even signal how a procedure is progressing.
 
Lead researcher Dr Anantha Narayanan, a trainee vascular surgeon and PhD candidate in the Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, was inspired to explore the topic as a medical student after noticing music being used to create a calming atmosphere in the theatre. A saxophonist, he combined his enthusiasm for music with his dedication to research.
 
“It started with a simple question,” he says, “does music actually have an effect in the operating theatre, or do people just enjoy it?”

That question grew into his PhD, culminating in the final Background Auditory Conditions in Healthcare (BACH) study, a qualitative exploration
of music’s role in surgery.

The study shows music is neither simply good nor bad. When chosen collaboratively, it can improve teamwork, lift mood and help patients feel at ease. But when imposed, it can create discomfort, heighten tension and reinforce hierarchy.
 
“A key finding is that how music is chosen matters as much as what music is chosen,” Narayanan says. “Operating theatre teams should make shared decisions, because not everyone experiences it in the same way.”

When staff are included, music can foster a relaxed and positive environment, but exclusion can highlight tensions.

Many of the stories shared in the study underline how personal musical taste can be.

One participant recalled a moment of strong team cohesion when music lifted the mood during a break. “There was a point in the afternoon where three circulating nurses were all having a little dance in the back, everyone was on board, things were on track, and it was a nice time.”

But not every experience was as harmonious.
 
In one case, a surgeon’s affinity for opera clashed with colleagues’ preferences, while other accounts described music causing frustration or conflict. And country music from a surgeon was “quite painful when it was on for about 15 hours,” one participant said.

Music could also create awkward moments. One surgeon operated on a teenage boy who had requested rap music during a minor procedure. “It was quite appalling in terms of the language that was going on, and I was quite shocked while he was going off to sleep,” the surgeon says.

Sometimes, music underscored unforgettable moments. The Lion King’s iconic 'Circle of Life' played as a baby was lifted from the womb during a caesarean section, at the mother’s request.

Music can act as an environmental cue, the study finds. “Observers or participants in the theatre environment may use it as information to check if things are going well or not,” Narayanan says. A soundtrack may help teams relax and focus but is often turned off during critical moments to allow full focus.

Researchers conducted structured interviews with seven surgeons, anaesthetists and nurses about their experiences with music in theatre. The data was analysed qualitatively, he says, revealing five key themes: “reflection of team cohesion, contributing to a therapeutic space, not a panacea for all, a mirror to power or hierarchy and a useful environmental cue.”

Narayanan says the takeaway is simple.
 
“It’s not about choosing the perfect song,” he says. “It’s about making sure everyone feels included.”
 
He says music can be a powerful tool in the operating theatre when used thoughtfully, enhancing teamwork, communication, and the overall surgical experience.
 
The study, A qualitative exploration of the perceptions of music use by healthcare professionals in the operating theatre (the BACH study), was supervised by Associate Professor Anna Serlachius, with co-authors Sian Ellett, Associate Professor Manar Khashram and Professor James Fisher from the University’s Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences.

Six New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) personnel have this month been part of a multinational effort in Papua New Guinea to destroy about 2200 explosive remnants left over from the Second World War.

Delivered under Australian Defence Force (ADF) leadership, Operation Render Safe brought together military personnel from Papua New Guinea, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, France, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States to locate and safely dispose of about 7550kg of the explosives.

The operation focused on explosive remnants of war – or ERW – identified during previous missions in the Gazelle, Kokopo and Rabaul districts of East New Britain province. They have continued to pose a serious risk to local communities for more than 80 years.

The munitions were moved to pits that had been dug so charges could be placed on them to destroy them.

The smaller and more stable bombs were moved via vehicle and the larger ones carried by several people with slings.

New Zealand Army Captain ‘C’*, Senior National Officer of the Kiwi contingent, said the six-person NZDF Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) team was embedded within the ADF-led task force, working alongside Papua New Guinea Defence Force and international counterparts.

“It’s a challenging task, in a hot and humid jungle environment and with seriously degraded munitions that have spent 80 years exposed to the weather and sea salt,” Captain C said.

“But it’s an important task to ensure the safety of communities in these areas.”

The NZDF maintains a highly capable EOD service, drawing personnel from the Royal New Zealand Navy, New Zealand Army and Royal New Zealand Air Force.

EOD teams provide regular domestic support to New Zealand Police, including the assessment and disposal of improvised explosive devices and unexploded ordnance.

NZDF personnel are also very experienced in ERW clearance operations across the Pacific, having undertaken similar work in Bougainville, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu and Nauru in recent years.

The Force Integration Training conducted in Australia prior to deployment ensured the multinational team could operate effectively together in the challenging Papua New Guinea conditions.

“The training ensured we were not only a strong, cohesive team, but also allowed us to build enduring relationships that will support future operations,” Captain ‘C’ said.

“Every time we work with the ADF and our partner nations, it’s a valuable opportunity to understand each other’s procedures—ensuring we remain interoperable and ready to deploy together when needed.”

Render Safe is a long-standing multinational initiative, running for more than 20 years, aimed at reducing the threat posed by ERW across the Pacific and strengthening regional security through cooperation.

The NZDF contribution reflects New Zealand’s ongoing commitment to regional security and its close defence relationships with Papua New Guinea, Australia and other international partners.