Environmental noise in hospitals: a systematic review

Andrade, Erik de Lima; Silva, Darllan Collins da Cunha e; Lima, E.A.; Oliveira, Renan Angrizani de; Zannin, Paulo Henrique Trombetta; Martins, Antônio Cesar Germano

doi:10.1007/s11356-021-13211-2

Cited by 67 publications

(33 citation statements)

References 72 publications

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“…The outcome from this study revealed some general consistencies with previous studies from the literature. Hospital noise levels (L Aeq ) in some speci c microenvironments including ICU, emergency departments, waiting rooms, and pediatric clinics were found ranging from 37-89 dB (A) during the daytime, and 39-69 dB (A) at night (de Lima Andrade et al, 2021). Similar to this current study, the reported average indoor noise levels in a hospital room in Saudi Arabia of 53.9 dB (A) during the day (Al-Dorzi et al, 2020), and in the emergency ward of 69. dB (A) in Iran (Eivazzadeh et al, 2019) were found to have exceeded WHO limits (WHO, 1999).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Spatiotemporal Assessment Of The Effect of Indoor Noise On Annoyance, Health And Comfort In Hospital Wards And Intensive Care Unit

Amoatey¹,

Al-Harthy²,

Ma³

et al. 2021

Preprint

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Hospital-noise levels can induce physiological responses, and affects sleep quality, which could contribute to cardiovascular-related health problems. Till date, high resolution hospital noise exposure assessment studies have not received much attention in Oman. This study aims at assessing sound pressure levels across hospital wards and intensive care unit (ICU) rooms to determine annoyance, and potential health effects based on perception and risk estimates. An indoor exposure assessment using high precision noise sensors was conducted in a female medical ward (FMW), isolated ward (SLW), emergency ward (EMW), and intensive care Unit (ICU) in a public hospital in Muscat city, Oman. Self–administered questionnaire was randomly distributed among respondents using both online and field survey approach to ascertain annoyance, health effects, and potential risks associated with exposure. The study found that 24–hr noise levels (LAeq) ranged from 55.2–61.7 dB(A) in the hospital wards and ICU rooms, which exceeded WHO’s hospital indoor rooms critical limit of 35 dB(A) by 58% – 76%. A total of 150 participants took part in the survey. Among the respondents, 53% reported moderate annoyance at the hospital wards while 56% felt sensitivity to the noise levels. Noise annoyance was reported by the majority of the patients across the various wards and emergency rooms as causing slight annoyance (50%) and intermittent sleep disturbances (49%). The majority (73%) of the medical staff have complained that the current noise levels affect overall work performance (p = 0.004), while 70% of them have further complained of it as a cause of workplace distraction (p = 0.011). Quantitative risk estimates showed that both the % of highly annoyed (HA) persons (16%), and highly sleep–disturbed (HSD) persons (9%) were very high in FMW, while ICU was found to have the lowest risk. However, the greater number of the respondents (87%) believed there are possibilities of mitigating (p <0.001) the current noise levels.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Spatiotemporal Assessment Of The Effect of Indoor Noise On Annoyance, Health And Comfort In Hospital Wards And Intensive Care Unit

Amoatey¹,

Al-Harthy²,

Ma³

et al. 2021

Preprint

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“…Most studies of background noise in hospitals (3)(4)(5)(6) have concentrated on patient impacts (sleep patterns, wellbeing and satisfaction) rather than impact on staff communication. A large variety of methods of measurement have been used, which makes comparison of results difficult (7).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Background noise in an Emergency Department: an observational study from staff and patient perspectives

Emar

Smith

Coats

2022

Preprint

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Background and importanceNoise is a contributing factor to mis-communication, poor sleep patterns and stress in healthcare. There has been little research on noise in the Emergency Department (ED).Objective(s)(1) To identify the noise levels experienced by staff and patients in different areas of an emergency department over the 24 hour cycle, (2) to examine the impact of cubicle doors on the background noise experienced by the patient, and (3) to assess the impact of monitor alarms on staff and patient noise levels.DesignObservational study.SettingA large urban teaching hospital Emergency Department.Measures and analysisUsing a standard protocol monitoring of staff and patient experience of noise was carried out in 3 areas of the ED (a resuscitation room, an area of patient cubicles with solid doors and and an area of patient cubicles with curtains).The overall distributions of noise levels in each area were described and circadian variation plotted. The proportion of time that background noise was above key cutoff values known to impair communication was calculated (45dB and 65dB).Non-parametric methods were used to compare: (1) a patient cubicle with curtains compared to a solid door, (2) having the door open or closed, and (3) staff and patient exposure a monitor alarm.Main resultsNoise was greater than 45dB for staff between 76% and 96% of the time (30% to 100% for patients). There was little difference across the 24hr cycle. A door decreased the noise experienced by patients, but only if left closed. In the resuscitation rooms monitor alarms were much louder for patients than for staff.ConclusionNoise levels likely to impair communication are present in the ED for most of the time. Staff awareness and improved design of both buildings and equipment might mitigate this negative acoustic environment.

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“…It does not occur in a bubble and is impacted by context. ED are inherently noisy, stressful environments 9 . Nursing staff in EDs are less likely to have time to establish relationships with patients than other longer term care providers 10 …”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Daily reality of violence in a rural emergency department: Is violence becoming the new normal?

Jacob

Vuuren

Kinsman

et al. 2022

Emerg Medicine Australasia

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Objectives Violence in emergency healthcare is a persistent and concerning problem. The objective of the present study was to explore and understand rural nurses' views on the daily experience and impact of violence, and its perpetrators. Methods The present study took a descriptive exploratory approach. Two focus groups were held with nurses from an ED at a rural hospital in New South Wales, Australia. Results Violence occurred regularly and had a significant impact on staff. Nurses go to work expecting to search patients for weapons and be physically and verbally abused. Tolerating and being able to manage violence has become a rite of passage. Conclusions The present study shows that rural workers, like metropolitan workers, feel experiences of violence are a routine part of their roles. Violence in healthcare is a societal issue, that cannot be solved without a multifactor approach that considers the characteristics of the perpetrators.

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Environmental noise in hospitals: a systematic review

Cited by 67 publications

References 72 publications

Spatiotemporal Assessment Of The Effect of Indoor Noise On Annoyance, Health And Comfort In Hospital Wards And Intensive Care Unit

Spatiotemporal Assessment Of The Effect of Indoor Noise On Annoyance, Health And Comfort In Hospital Wards And Intensive Care Unit

Background noise in an Emergency Department: an observational study from staff and patient perspectives

Daily reality of violence in a rural emergency department: Is violence becoming the new normal?

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