The Impact of Classical Music on Performance in Robotic Surgery Simulation

June 6, 2026 updated by: René Wenzl, Medical University of Vienna
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 Overview

Status

Enrolling by invitation

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

30

Phase

  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

  • Austria
    • State of Vienna
      • Vienna, State of Vienna, Austria, 1090
        • Medical University of Vienna

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult
  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

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.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • 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

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Basic Science
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Crossover Assignment
  • Masking: Single

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
No Intervention: No music exposure while performing standardize exercises
After a short training phase, participants perform the standardized exercises on the da Vinci simulator without any background music.
Active Comparator: Classical Music exposure while performing standardize exercises
After a short training phase, participants perform the standardized exercises on the da Vinci simulator while listening to classical music.
Behavioral: Exposure to Classical Music
Exposure to Classical Music through headphones while performing standardized exercises on the da Vinci robotic surgery simulator.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
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.
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 Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
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 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.
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.
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.
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.

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Medical University of Vienna

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Estimated)

May 20, 2026

Primary Completion (Estimated)

December 1, 2026

Study Completion (Estimated)

December 1, 2026

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

May 19, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

June 6, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

June 10, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

June 10, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

June 6, 2026

Last Verified

May 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Other Study ID Numbers

  • 1041/2026

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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