Noise in hospitals as a strain for the medical staff

Abstract

Noise research in hospitals focuses mainly on the harmful effects on patients. But at least in intensive care units and operation theatres, also the staff is exposed to high levels of noise during considerable portions of working time. Evidence from literature is summarized here. During operation sessions lasting from 30 min. to several hours, reported average Leq values range from 58 to 72 dB(A) with maximum levels above 105 dB(A). Similar noise levels are reported from emergency departments. As concentration, precise communication and fast decisions are necessary in these situations, the acoustical environment has to be considered an enormous strain for the staff and a potential risk with regard to faults at work. But also during normal day and night shifts in intensive care units, noise is mentioned as an important disturbance by the medical staff. Most disturbing are noises from telephones and other communication tools and the signals and sounds from medical devices. Questionnaire surveys result in 80 to 91 % of the staff reporting negative effects of noise in their daily work. A variety of measures for noise reduction and prevention in hospitals is suggested in literature emphasizing that the staff plays a decisive role in such projects. © 2013 Acoustical Society of America.