Acoustic assessment of speech privacy curtains in two nursing units

Could Spatial Awareness Affect Situation Awareness: A Conceptual Examination

PURPOSE

The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between situation awareness (SA) and the physical environment in patient rooms through building a conceptual model.

BACKGROUND

Nurses work in very complicated and dynamic environments where having high levels of SA could be critical for their performance. Studies have also shown that nurses' awareness of the physical environment and patient room is a part of their awareness of dynamic situations in which nurses' spatial awareness may play a role in SA. Despite literature outlining the importance of SA, there is a lack of studies exploring the relationship between the two.

METHOD

A literature review was conducted for the study from nursing and psychology databases. Thirty-three articles, books, and dissertations from a scoping review were included for in-depth review.

RESULTS

An in-depth review of the harvested literature indicated that there is in fact a relationship between these two phenomena. Founded on Endsley's model of SA, the literature review in this study offers a conceptual model that articulates a plausible causal pathway between the physical environment and SA.

CONCLUSIONS

There are a lot of studies focusing on SA and various aspects of it related to nursing, but almost none mention the physical environment and its impact on SA. The current inquiry suggests that spatial awareness plays a prominent role in SA.

Perceptions and Experiences of Privacy Among Persons With an Ostomy Receiving Treatment and Care: A Mixed-Methods Study

PURPOSE

The aim of this study was to determine ostomy patients' experiences and opinions on protection of privacy during treatment and care.

DESIGN

Mixed-methods, descriptive correlational study.

SAMPLE AND SETTING

The study sample comprised 80 patients with an ostomy receiving treatment and care in a university hospital in Turkey.

METHODS

Data were collected using a form developed by the researchers based on literature review. The survey consisted of statements that examined demographic characteristics, experiences, and opinions of patients with an ostomy.

RESULTS

For participants, 64.8% (n = 35/54) defined privacy from a physical dimension, 64.1% (n = 25/39) suffered from ostomy-related psychosocial discomfort, 48.7% experienced ostomy-related discomfort mostly during nursing care (n = 19/39), 48.7% (n = 39/80) were uncomfortable when their ostomy was seen by others, Approximately 56.3% (n = 45/80) thought that they disturbed other patients and their families during ostomy care, and 46.3% (n = 37/80) stated that healthcare professionals discussed information about their ostomy when other patients and their families were present. In addition, 21.3% (n = 17/80) opined that the physical conditions of patient rooms failed to provide privacy. Analysis revealed no significant relationship between education levels and reading the Patient Rights Regulation (P = .129). Analysis also found no significant relationships between age (P = .086), marital status (P = .382), educational background (P = .143), hospitalization experience (P = .427), and satisfaction with perceptions of privacy when receiving ostomy care.

CONCLUSION

Patients with an ostomy reported physical and psychosocial problems concerning privacy, felt uncomfortable about the way information on their ostomy was discussed, and thought that physical conditions were not suitable for ostomy care. We recommend that healthcare professionals be provided with more training on psychosocial problems and privacy for patients with ostomy and that institutional policies and procedures be developed to address patients' problems.

Respiration mask waveguide optimisation for maximised speech intelligibility

Both the scarcity and environmental impact of disposable face masks, as in the COVID-19 pandemic, have instigated the recent development of reusable masks. Such face masks reduce transmission of infectious agents and particulates, but often impact a user's ability to be understood when materials, such as silicone or hard polymers, are used. In this work, we present a numerical optimisation approach to optimise waveguide topology, where a waveguide is used to transmit and direct sound from the interior of the mask volume to the outside air. This approach allows acoustic energy to be maximised according to specific frequency bands, including those most relevant to human speech. We employ this method to convert a resuscitator mask, made of silicone, into respiration personal protective equipment (PPE) that maximises the speech intelligibility index (SII). We validate this approach experimentally as well, showing improved SII when using the fabricated device. Together, this design represents a unique and effective approach to utilize and adapt available apparatus to filter air while improving the ability to communicate effectively, including in healthcare settings.

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.