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Tronstad O, Flaws D, Patterson S, Holdsworth R, Garcia-Hansen V, Rodriguez Leonard F, Ong R, Yerkovich S, Fraser JF. Evaluation of the sensory environment in a large tertiary ICU. Crit Care 2023; 27:461. [PMID: 38012768 PMCID: PMC10683296 DOI: 10.1186/s13054-023-04744-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2023] [Accepted: 11/18/2023] [Indexed: 11/29/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND ICU survival is improving. However, many patients leave ICU with ongoing cognitive, physical, and/or psychological impairments and reduced quality of life. Many of the reasons for these ongoing problems are unmodifiable; however, some are linked with the ICU environment. Suboptimal lighting and excessive noise contribute to a loss of circadian rhythms and sleep disruptions, leading to increased mortality and morbidity. Despite long-standing awareness of these problems, meaningful ICU redesign is yet to be realised, and the 'ideal' ICU design is likely to be unique to local context and patient cohorts. To inform the co-design of an improved ICU environment, this study completed a detailed evaluation of the ICU environment, focussing on acoustics, sound, and light. METHODS This was an observational study of the lighting and acoustic environment using sensors and formal evaluations. Selected bedspaces, chosen to represent different types of bedspaces in the ICU, were monitored during prolonged study periods. Data were analysed descriptively using Microsoft Excel. RESULTS Two of the three monitored bedspaces showed a limited difference in lighting levels across the day, with average daytime light intensity not exceeding 300 Lux. In bedspaces with a window, the spectral power distribution (but not intensity) of the light was similar to natural light when all ceiling lights were off. However, when the ceiling lights were on, the spectral power distribution was similar between bedspaces with and without windows. Average sound levels in the study bedspaces were 63.75, 56.80, and 59.71 dBA, with the single room being noisier than the two open-plan bedspaces. There were multiple occasions of peak sound levels > 80 dBA recorded, with the maximum sound level recorded being > 105 dBA. We recorded one new monitor or ventilator alarm commencing every 69 s in each bedspace, with only 5% of alarms actioned. Acoustic testing showed poor sound absorption and blocking. CONCLUSIONS This study corroborates other studies confirming that the lighting and acoustic environments in the study ICU were suboptimal, potentially contributing to adverse patient outcomes. This manuscript discusses potential solutions to identified problems. Future studies are required to evaluate whether an optimised ICU environment positively impacts patient outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oystein Tronstad
- Critical Care Research Group, Level 3 Clinical Sciences Building, The Prince Charles Hospital, Rode Road, Chermside, QLD, 4032, Australia.
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia.
- Physiotherapy Department, The Prince Charles Hospital, Brisbane, Australia.
| | - Dylan Flaws
- Critical Care Research Group, Level 3 Clinical Sciences Building, The Prince Charles Hospital, Rode Road, Chermside, QLD, 4032, Australia
- Department of Mental Health, Metro North Mental Health, Caboolture Hospital, Caboolture, Australia
- School of Clinical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Sue Patterson
- Critical Care Research Group, Level 3 Clinical Sciences Building, The Prince Charles Hospital, Rode Road, Chermside, QLD, 4032, Australia
- School of Dentistry, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Robert Holdsworth
- Critical Care Research Group, Level 3 Clinical Sciences Building, The Prince Charles Hospital, Rode Road, Chermside, QLD, 4032, Australia
| | - Veronica Garcia-Hansen
- School of Architecture and Built Environment, Faculty of Engineering, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Francisca Rodriguez Leonard
- School of Architecture and Built Environment, Faculty of Engineering, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Ruth Ong
- School of Architecture and Built Environment, Faculty of Engineering, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Stephanie Yerkovich
- Menzies School of Health Research and Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia
| | - John F Fraser
- Critical Care Research Group, Level 3 Clinical Sciences Building, The Prince Charles Hospital, Rode Road, Chermside, QLD, 4032, Australia
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
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Delaney LJ, Litton E, Melehan KL, Huang HCC, Lopez V, Van Haren F. The feasibility and reliability of actigraphy to monitor sleep in intensive care patients: an observational study. Crit Care 2021; 25:42. [PMID: 33514414 PMCID: PMC7844945 DOI: 10.1186/s13054-020-03447-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2020] [Accepted: 12/18/2020] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Sleep amongst intensive care patients is reduced and highly fragmented which may adversely impact on recovery. The current challenge for Intensive Care clinicians is identifying feasible and accurate assessments of sleep that can be widely implemented. The objective of this study was to investigate the feasibility and reliability of a minimally invasive sleep monitoring technique compared to the gold standard, polysomnography, for sleep monitoring. METHODS Prospective observational study employing a within subject design in adult patients admitted to an Intensive Care Unit. Sleep monitoring was undertaken amongst minimally sedated patients via concurrent polysomnography and actigraphy monitoring over a 24-h duration to assess agreement between the two methods; total sleep time and wake time. RESULTS We recruited 80 patients who were mechanically ventilated (24%) and non-ventilated (76%) within the intensive care unit. Sleep was found to be highly fragmented, composed of numerous sleep bouts and characterized by abnormal sleep architecture. Actigraphy was found to have a moderate level of overall agreement in identifying sleep and wake states with polysomnography (69.4%; K = 0.386, p < 0.05) in an epoch by epoch analysis, with a moderate level of sensitivity (65.5%) and specificity (76.1%). Monitoring accuracy via actigraphy was improved amongst non-ventilated patients (specificity 83.7%; sensitivity 56.7%). Actigraphy was found to have a moderate correlation with polysomnography reported total sleep time (r = 0.359, p < 0.05) and wakefulness (r = 0.371, p < 0.05). Bland-Altman plots indicated that sleep was underestimated by actigraphy, with wakeful states overestimated. CONCLUSIONS Actigraphy was easy and safe to use, provided moderate level of agreement with polysomnography in distinguishing between sleep and wakeful states, and may be a reasonable alternative to measure sleep in intensive care patients. Clinical Trial Registration number ACTRN12615000945527 (Registered 9/9/2015).
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Affiliation(s)
- L J Delaney
- School of Nursing, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.
- Medicine and Health Sciences, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia.
| | - E Litton
- Intensive Care Unit, Fiona Stanley Hospital, Perth, WA, Australia
- Intensive Care Unit, St John of God Hospital Subiaco, Perth, WA, Australia
| | - K L Melehan
- Sleep Unit, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - H-C C Huang
- Medicine and Health Sciences, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia
- Respiratory and Sleep Medicine, Canberra Hospital, Woden, ACT, Australia
- Canberra Obesity Management Service, Canberra Health Services, Belconnen, ACT, Australia
| | - V Lopez
- School of Nursing, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan, China
- School of Nursing, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, Australia
| | - F Van Haren
- Medicine and Health Sciences, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia
- Intensive Care Unit, Canberra Hospital, Garran, ACT, Australia
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