Noise and Sleep Among Adult Medical Inpatients: Far From a Quiet Night

A qualitative study of sleep quality in children and their resident parents when in hospital

“…Linder and Christian33 demonstrated abrupt increases in sound level and constantly elevated sound levels throughout the night on a paediatric oncology ward. Similar studies in adult hospital settings have demonstrated an association between noise and poor sleep, furthermore identifying avoidable sources of noise, such as noisy conversations among staff 34. While improving sound insulation would be expensive, staff behaviours during night shifts, as well as regulations around appropriate visiting times and television and electronic media curfew hours, could make a measureable difference 35.…”

Acoustic contamination in urgent medical transportation by road

“…Además existe una marcada relación entre exposición laboral al ruido con modificaciones de la tensión arterial y frecuencia cardiaca 6,7 y con la aparición de enfermedades cardiovasculares, además de con estrés o alteraciones digestivas 5,8 . En el entorno sanitario, recientes investigaciones 9 han determinado que incluso en los hospitales se exceden los niveles de ruido recomendados por la Organización Mundial de la Salud (establecidos, para esta situación, en 35 decibelios), siendo la contaminación sonora una queja frecuente, tanto de los usuarios como del personal sanitario. Además, este factor ha mostrado especial repercusión en el tiempo de recuperación de los pacientes.…”

To see or not to see: Investigating the links between patient visibility and potential moderators affecting the patient experience

“…In a study of a medical/surgical inpatient unit, patients with average nighttime noise levels of approximately 50 dB slept considerably less (76 min) than patients experiencing an average noise of 43 dB (Yoder et al, 2012). Low quality and low quantity of patient sleep has been associated with increased stress, reduced immune system function, increased pain, increased delirium, and increased blood pressure (Leino-Kilpi et al, 2001;Solet, Buxton, Ellenbogen, Wang, & Carballiera, 2010;Topf & Davis, 1993;Wallace, Robins, Alvord, & Walker, 1999).…”

“…Peak noise levels refer to temporary rises in noise level caused by specific events. Peak noise has been associated with increases in medication dispensing errors (Flynn et al, 1999;Kistner, Keith, Sergeant, & Hokanson, 1994) and with disturbing and awakening patients during sleep (Aaron et al, 1996;Gabor et al, 2003;Yoder, Staisiunas, Meltzer, Knutson, & Arora, 2012).…”

“…Although the need for quiet may not be as great in an orthopedic unit as, say, a coronary care unit, excessive continuous noise levels have been associated with increased patient and staff stress, reduced patient satisfaction, and impaired patient sleep in a variety of acute care settings (Blomkvist, Eriksen, Theorell, Ulrich, & Rasmanis, 2005;Novaes, Aronovich, Ferraz, & Knobel, 1997;Pattison & Robertson, 1996;Yoder et al, 2012). In a study of a medical/surgical inpatient unit, patients with average nighttime noise levels of approximately 50 dB slept considerably less (76 min) than patients experiencing an average noise of 43 dB (Yoder et al, 2012).…”