Notes on noise

Assessment of Medical-Surgical Patients' Perception of Hospital Noises and Reported Ability to Rest

OBJECTIVES

The purpose was to determine if an enhanced privacy curtain (1) impacted ability to rest while hospitalized in the acute care setting and (2) improved patient satisfaction associated with environmental noise.

METHODS

The project evaluated a privacy curtain designed to increase speech privacy and intelligibility and reduce reverberation time (echo). The curtain was similar to the existing privacy curtain with 2 exceptions: the curtain panel had pocket inserts that absorbed sound, and curtain panels could be zipped together to reduce sound transmission through gaps. Curtains were evaluated on 2 medical-surgical units. Patients with at least 2 nights' stay and were alert and oriented without behavioral concerns were asked to complete a 12-item restful environment assessment.

RESULTS

The project demonstrated some impact on ability to rest. One unit saw an increase in the patient experience sleep measure score and demonstrated a small increase in the patient's self- reported ability to rest during the day and night when using the enhanced curtain.

CONCLUSION

Patients on medical-surgical units were bothered by the noises typically heard in those units. Small improvements in patient experience with the enhanced curtain were outweighed by cost and increased housekeeping and laundry staff workload.

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

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.