Hospitals, medical suites and aged care facilities are all subject to noise pollution. More and more research is appearing to demonstrate problems caused by noise, which include:
- high blood pressure and increased heart rate in workplaces,
- increased errors and staff attrition in hospitals, and
- a lack of speech privacy in professional offices and suites.
Noise pollution is also one of the risk factors for staff burnout and negative outcomes for patients.
Further, noise pollution affects healthcare facility compliance with privacy and work health & safety legislation and guidelines. While there are many options to reduce noise, the effectiveness of the method, safety and sustainability issues need to be considered for each space.
Sources of noise pollution
Noise pollution occurs when there is “unwanted or disturbing sound” – that is, when sound either interferes with normal activities or disrupts or diminishes one’s quality of life. Noise pollution can be external (from outside) or internal (from inside).
In the context of a healthcare facility, external noise includes traffic, deliveries and sirens. Internal noise can include ventilator noise and alarms, suctioning, heart monitor alarms, nebulizers, pulse oximeter tones and alarms, telephones ringing, air conditioning, television, radio, banging, rubbish bin or trolley noises, intercoms, staff bleeps, talking (staff, nurses), visitors, fellow-patients, and general activities.
These sources of noise pollution have varying impacts on patients. However, studies show that staff conversation and alarms seem to be the most disturbing noises when patients try to sleep.
Staff Productivity & Errors
Noise pollution increases the likelihood of mistakes and is one of the risk factors for staff burnout. In a noisy environment, directions can be misunderstood which increases dispensing errors. Further, distracting noise reduces staff concentration and disrupts cognitive functioning. Staff can also suffer the same stress and physiological changes that patients suffer – increased blood pressure and heart rate. All of these problems contribute to a reduction in staff productivity as well as staff and patient satisfaction.
Patient Health, Wellbeing & Recovery
When patients stay in hospitals or other healthcare facilities, they have an enhanced awareness of their surroundings. This means that the indoor environment quality is of particular importance for inducing sleep, recovery and wellbeing. Noise pollution is a problem because it can adversely affect all of these elements.
It is well documented that noise can produce physiological changes. For example, studies in the intensive care unit (ICU) agree that patients exposed to noise pollution have decreased oxygen saturation (increasing need for oxygen support therapy), elevated blood pressure, increased heart and respiration rate, and worsened sleep. Further, there is strong evidence that noise increases stress in adult patients, heightening blood pressure and heart rate. The obvious problem, sleep loss, leads to slower recovery times and greater likelihood of readmission to hospital.
Another consideration is sleep medication. A Dutch study found that patients who used sleep medication for at least 5 days in hospital continued to use the medication at home, whereas those who did not use the medication in hospital did not use it at home.
This article is the first in a three part series of articles on noise pollution in healthcare. Subsequent articles cover the non-medical implications along with solutions.