Impact of Anesthesia Alarm Volume on Mental Workload in Surgical Trainees

Noise in hospital environments, particularly in operating rooms, poses challenges to both patient comfort and healthcare professionals' performance. Among the sources of noise, anesthesia monitoring alarms are essential for patient safety, yet no clear guidelines exist regarding their optimal sound level. Excessive alarm volume may increase distraction and cognitive load, especially for surgical trainees, potentially impairing their focus and performance during procedures. This randomized pilot interventional study aims to evaluate the impact of anesthesia alarm sound intensity on the mental workload of surgical trainees performing simulated surgeries. Participants will be randomly assigned to conditions with either an optimized alarm volume or a higher standard volume during simulated tasks. Cognitive load will be assessed using objective physiological measures such as heart rate variability and pupillometry, as well as subjective evaluations with tools like the NASA-TLX and SURG-TLX scales. The primary goal is to determine whether an optimized alarm sound level can reduce cognitive strain without compromising vigilance required for patient safety. Findings from this study are expected to provide evidence-based recommendations for auditory ergonomics in operating rooms, ultimately improving working conditions for surgical teams and enhancing both training and patient safety.