The Effectiveness of Measures Aimed at Noise Reduction in an Intensive Care Unit

Abstract

Noise is a significant problem for both hospitalized patients and health care workers. This study aimed to determine the effectiveness of noise reduction strategies in an intensive care unit. Noise was measured in two phases. In the first phase, the unit's present level of noise was established over 3 weeks between January 1, 2012, and February 1, 2012. During the month following initial measurements, noise reduction interventions, including staff education and physical space arrangement, were initiated, and device alarms were checked. The second phase of measurement was conducted during another 3-week period (between June 1, 2012, and July 1, 2012). The noise levels before and after noise reduction interventions were calculated as 67.6 dB-A and 56 dB-A; the difference between the two levels was statistically significant (p<.05). The interventions were effective in reducing noise in intensive care units; the interventions are relatively easy and low cost.

“They can rest at home”: an observational study of patients’ quality of sleep in an Australian hospital

“…Reported interventions include staff education about the importance of sleep and the use of noise monitoring equipment to alert staff to increases in noise volume [ 35 ]. Kol et al demonstrated a significant reduction in environmental noise levels in an intensive care environment after the introduction of staff education and a rearrangement of the ward environment (67.6 dB[A] pre versus 56 dB[A] post, p < 0.05) [ 38 ]. In contrast, Nannapaneni et al reported that a multipronged noise intervention inclusive of education and noise monitoring had a minimal effect on ambient noise levels, but did result in a reduction in the number of noise ascensions [ 39 ].…”

Sleep in the Intensive Care Unit: Strategies for Improvement

“…Behavior-based sound reduction studies comparing staff education, education with sound monitoring, and education with environmental modifications had mixed results, with no improvement in sound levels in some studies 128 and a reduction in others (►Table 1). 80,129 Notably, sound reduction interventions did not evaluate sustainability, and decibel levels commonly remained above recommended limits. 80,130 While sound masking with white noise has been demonstrated to improve sleep quality, [105][106][107] sound blocking via earplugs has received particular attention due to recent research suggesting improved sleep perception, satisfaction, and delirium in ICU patients wearing earplugs.…”

Noise in the work environment in the south moravian and moravian-silesian regions

“…Z výsledků zahraničních studií se dá odhadovat podobné zařazení pracovníků do rizikových a nerizikových kategorií s tím, že jen 2,2 % zdravotnických a sociálních pracovníků bylo vystaveno rizikovým hladinám hluku (8). Kol hodnotil hlukové podmínky na jednotce intenzivní péče před a po zavedení strategií na redukci hluku a z jeho výsledků vyplynulo, že došlo ke snížení průměrné hladiny hluku o téměř 12 dB (17).…”