Effect of Noise in the Waiting Area on Negative Emotions of Patients Undergoing Gastrointestinal Endoscopy

Abstract

Objective The environment noise in hospitals significantly influences patients' psychological states. This study aimed to investigate the effect of noise in the waiting area of a gastrointestinal endoscopy department on patients' negative emotions. Methods This retrospective study was conducted on the clinical data of 126 patients undergoing gastrointestinal endoscopy in Cangnan Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University from January to December 2023. The patients were divided into a low-noise group (noise level <50 dB, n = 62) and a high-noise group (noise level nts were n = 64) according to the average noise levels in the waiting area. Anxiety (numeric rating scale [NRS]) and negative emotions (negative affect [NA] scores in the positive and NA schedules) were compared between the groups. Pearson correlation analysis was conducted to assess the correlation between noise levels and patients' emotional states. Results The patients in the high-noise group exhibited significantly higher NRS and NA (distress, angry, fearful, and jittery) scores than those in the low-noise group. Correlation analysis revealed positive correlations between noise levels and feelings of anxiety (r = 0.303, P = 0.002), distress (r = 0.289, P = 0.003), angry (r = 0.298, P = 0.002), fearful (r = 0.280, P = 0.004), and jittery (r = 0.302, P = 0.002). Conclusion Reducing noise levels in the waiting area of endoscopy departments may improve patients' emotional states. Measures such as optimizing the layouts of the waiting area and installing sound barriers can reduce noise levels and enhance patients' experience.