SurgicalNCT07639788
The Impact of Classical Music on Performance in Robotic Surgery Simulation
A study testing Exposure to Classical Music in people with Surgical and Surgical Behaviour in the Operating Room, run by Medical University of Vienna at 1 site in Austria.
Trial summary
In this experimental crossover study using the da Vinci simulator, the aim is to investigate how classical music influences the surgical performance of medical students. Following a brief training phase, participants complete standardized tasks under two conditions (no music vs. classical music). Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 65 yearsHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Surgical, Surgical Behaviour in the Operating Room, Da Vinci Robot
- What is being tested?
- Exposure to Classical Music
- Type of treatment
- Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 30 participants
- Where
- 1 siteAustria
- Study dates
- 20 May 2026to Dec 2026
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 to 65 years
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- The study includes adult (≥ 18 years) medical students between the first completed and the twelfth completed semester. Prior experience in robotic surgery or with training simulators is not required; however, basic familiarity with the use of technical devices is necessary. Furthermore, participants must have sufficient knowledge of German or English to provide informed consent and fully understand the instructions.
Who cannot join
- Lack of capacity to provide informed consent
- Insufficient language proficiency (German/English)
- Known hypersensitivity to noise
- Hearing or balance disorders
- Conditions that significantly affect attention or motor skills (e.g., tremor, myopathies)
- Acute illnesses that may impair participation, substance influence, or severe fatigue
- Direct dependency or evaluative relationship with members of the study team
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
About this study
In this experimental crossover study using the da Vinci simulator, the aim is to investigate how classical music influences the surgical performance of medical students. Following a brief training phase, participants complete standardized tasks under two conditions (no music vs. classical music). Performance is assessed using an objective trainer score. The study is conducted in a risk-free simulation environment, the stimuli are standardized, participation is voluntary, and data are collected in a pseudonymized manner. The goal is to obtain evidence-based insights into the effects of music and distraction on training and the working environment in robotic surgery.
- Conditions
- Surgical, Surgical Behaviour in the Operating Room, Da Vinci Robot, da Vinci SP Surgical System, Music Exposure, Music Listening Intervention
- Being tested
- Exposure to Classical Music
- Keywords
- operating room, da vinci, robotic surgery, music exposure, surgical performance, medial students, music listening intervention, robotic surgery simulation training
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Exposure to Classical MusicBehavioural
Exposure to Classical Music through headphones while performing standardized exercises on the da Vinci robotic surgery simulator.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| No music exposure while performing standardize exercises | No intervention | After a short training phase, participants perform the standardized exercises on the da Vinci simulator without any background music. |
| Classical Music exposure while performing standardize exercises | Active comparator | After a short training phase, participants perform the standardized exercises on the da Vinci simulator while listening to classical music. Receives: Behavioral: Exposure to Classical Music |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Da Vinci Surgical Performance Score
The primary outcome measure reflects the objective performance in the robotic da Vinci simulator and is automatically calculated by the simulation system based on parameters including total task completion time, error rate, and task precision. A higher score indicates a better performance during the task.
Measured: Once after each cycle (estimated: 15 minutes per cycle) of performing the standardized simulated surgical tasks (once with and once without exposure to Classical Music), the Performance Score will be measured by the simulation system.
Secondary outcomes (2)
Subjective Performance Score 1
Subjective measures of workload and perception are collected by using the SURG-TLX questionnaire (including subscales for mental and physical workload, time pressure, task complexity, stress, and distraction) including 6 questions (0-21 points per question) with a minimum of 0 and a maximum of 126 points. A lower score indicates better subjective performance.
Measured: After each cycle (estimated: 15 minutes per cycle)of performing the standardized simulated surgical tasks (once with and once without exposure to Classical Music), the Subjective Performance Score will be measured by the SURG-TLX.
Subjective Performance Score 2
Subjective measures of workload and perception are collected by using an additional questionnaire for a brief self-assessment of concentration and perceived distraction including 3 questions (0-10 points per question) with a minimum of 0 and a maximum of 30 points. A higher score indicates better subjective performance.
Measured: After each cycle (estimated: 15 minutes per cycle) of performing the standardized simulated surgical tasks (once with and once without exposure to Classical Music), the Subjective Performance Score will be measured by the additional questionnaire.
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted10 Jun 2026
- Study start20 May 2026 (estimated)
- Primary completionDec 2026 (estimated)
- Study completionDec 2026 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for SurgicalStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by Medical University of ViennaThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Basic science
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Crossover
- Masking
- Single blind
- Who is masked
- Participant
- Enrolment
- 30 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Medical University of Vienna
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, René Wenzl, Medical University of Vienna
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07639788
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 1041/2026
- Status last verified
- May 2026
- First submitted
- 19 May 2026
- Last updated
- 10 Jun 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- Yes
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 10 Jun 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- The Impact of Classical Music on Performance in Robotic Surgery Simulation
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07639788
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- 1041/2026
- Conditions
- Surgical, Surgical Behaviour in the Operating Room, Da Vinci Robot, da Vinci SP Surgical System, Music Exposure, Music Listening Intervention
- Keywords
- operating room, da vinci, robotic surgery, music exposure, surgical performance, medial students, music listening intervention, robotic surgery simulation training
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Enrolling by invitation
- Enrolment
- 30 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- Medical University of ViennaUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 20 May 2026 (estimated)
- Primary completion
- Dec 2026 (estimated)
- Study completion
- Dec 2026 (estimated)
- First posted
- 10 Jun 2026 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
In this experimental crossover study using the da Vinci simulator, the aim is to investigate how classical music influences the surgical performance of medical students. Following a brief training phase, participants complete standardized tasks under two conditions (no music vs. classical music). Performance is assessed using an objective trainer score. The study is conducted in a risk-free simulation environment, the stimuli are standardized, participation is voluntary, and data are collected in a pseudonymized manner. The goal is to obtain evidence-based insights into the effects of music and distraction on training and the working environment in robotic surgery.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Basic science
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Crossover
- Masking
- Single blind (participant)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| No music exposure while performing standardize exercises | No intervention | –After a short training phase, participants perform the standardized exercises on the da Vinci simulator without any background music. |
| Classical Music exposure while performing standardize exercises | Active comparator | Behavioral: Exposure to Classical MusicAfter a short training phase, participants perform the standardized exercises on the da Vinci simulator while listening to classical music. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 to 65 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (1 listed)
- The study includes adult (≥ 18 years) medical students between the first completed and the twelfth completed semester. Prior experience in robotic surgery or with training simulators is not required; however, basic familiarity with the use of technical devices is necessary. Furthermore, participants must have sufficient knowledge of German or English to provide informed consent and fully understand the instructions.
Key exclusion criteria (7 listed)
- Lack of capacity to provide informed consent
- Insufficient language proficiency (German/English)
- Known hypersensitivity to noise
- Hearing or balance disorders
- Conditions that significantly affect attention or motor skills (e.g., tremor, myopathies)
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Exposure to Classical MusicExposure to Classical Music through headphones while performing standardized exercises on the da Vinci robotic surgery simulator. | Behavioural | Classical Music exposure while performing standardize exercises |
Primary outcome
Da Vinci Surgical Performance Score
Time frame: Once after each cycle (estimated: 15 minutes per cycle) of performing the standardized simulated surgical tasks (once with and once without exposure to Classical Music), the Performance Score will be measured by the simulation system.
The primary outcome measure reflects the objective performance in the robotic da Vinci simulator and is automatically calculated by the simulation system based on parameters including total task completion time, error rate, and task precision. A higher score indicates a better performance during the task.
2 secondary outcomes
Subjective Performance Score 1
Time frame: After each cycle (estimated: 15 minutes per cycle)of performing the standardized simulated surgical tasks (once with and once without exposure to Classical Music), the Subjective Performance Score will be measured by the SURG-TLX.
Subjective Performance Score 2
Time frame: After each cycle (estimated: 15 minutes per cycle) of performing the standardized simulated surgical tasks (once with and once without exposure to Classical Music), the Subjective Performance Score will be measured by the additional questionnaire.
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 10 Jun 2026.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part.
The record lists no contact. Use the official record to reach the sponsor.
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Exposure to Classical Music in people with Surgical and Surgical Behaviour in the Operating Room, run by Medical University of Vienna at 1 site in Austria.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 1 inclusion and 7 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: enrolling by invitation, as of the sponsor's last update on 10 Jun 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in Austria. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Da Vinci Surgical Performance Score (time frame: Once after each cycle (estimated: 15 minutes per cycle) of performing the standardized simulated surgical tasks (once with and once without exposure to Classical Music), the Performance Score will be measured by the simulation system.). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 10 Jun 2026.