Noise pollution and its effects on medical care workers and patients in hospitals

Abstract

A BS T RA C T:The objectives of this study are to investigate the levels of noise pollution in some hospitals in Taiwan and to study the effects of noise pollution on the physiological and psychological reactions and annoyance response of medical care staff, patients and visitors in these hospitals. An instrument for the measurement of sound level was used and a self-answered survey questionnaire on noise pollution was administered. Results showed that the daily average sound levels measured inside these hospitals during daytime were between 52.6 and 64.6 decibels. These are higher than the current daytime environmental noise limit of 50 decibels in Taiwan. Most nursing staff members expressed that "talking of visitors or patient's family members" is the major source of noise inside the wards, whereas "talking of visitors or patient's family members" and "children playing" are the two major noise sources outside the wards. However, most patients or visitors claimed that "doors opening or closing" and "patients moaning or crying" are the two major sources of noise inside the wards. "Footsteps," "renovation of hospitals," "talking of visitors or patient's family members," "shouting of nursing staff" and "doors opening or closing" are the five major noise sources outside the wards. To conclude, noise pollution inside and outside the wards either directly or indirectly affects, in a simultaneous manner, the subjective perception of noise, emotions, physiology and experience of noise inside and outside the wards of both the medical care staff and the patients and visitors.

Determination of Factors that Cause Noise in Intensive Care Unit Environment

“…12,13 In an other study conducted by Lawson et al, it was stated that 56% of the noise source was alarms resulting from the devices at the ICU. 3 In another study, medical devices were indicated as a source of noise, especially ventilation system, bedside infusion pumps and monitor were reported noise sources.…”

Noise pollution and sleep disturbance among Neyshabur Hospital staff, Iran (2015)

“…The results of many local and international studies have reported that noise inside some hospitals was more than standard. The source of this noise may be visitors or patient's family members, medical and nursing staff, rolling of trolley wheels, children playing, doors opening or closing, patients moaning or crying, renovation of hospitals, and people's footsteps (43). Bayo et al found that most of the noise in one major hospital in Spain was from sources located primarily inside the hospital (44).…”

Noise Pollution at Health Care Centers in Mymensingh City of Bangladesh

“…Noise pollution exists in hospitals all over the world, is a common stressor and is recognized as not just as a nuisance but a serious health hazard. Various studies have measured hospital noise and linked to negative patients' quality care (Juang et al, 2010;Pope, 2010;Moshi et al, 2011). Evidence has also been accumulated that noise is a risk factor in sleep disturbance (Gabor et al, 2003;Xie et al, 2009), cardiovascular dysfunction, speech interference and mental health distortion, including hearing impairment and balance disorder (Satterfield, 2001;Ising and Kruppa, 2004).…”