It is widely accepted that environmental noise impacts in-patient recovery times. Indeed there is extensive research that confirms that noise in hospitals:

• slows patient recovery;
• reduces the productivity of professionals;
• increases the incidence of medical errors;
• has a negative impact on visitors; and
• can increase rates of re-hospitalisation.

However, the mechanism between noise and recovery is not yet fully known.

External noise pollution

We previously published a three-part blog series mostly focussed upon internal hospital noise. That is, ventilator noise and alarms, suctioning, heart monitor alarms, nebulisers, 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. 

But there’s an increasing recognition that external noise is just as impactful. With hospitals often located within inner city and urban environments, all of the problems of traffic, rail, and other transportation noise apply. With the added impact of sirens from those ambulances delivering patients. Indeed, recent data indicates that measured noise levels vary from 37 to 88.6 dBA in the daytime and from 38.7 to 68.8 dBA at night, while the average outdoor noise levels were 74.3 in the daytime and 56.6 dBA at night.

Patient recovery

While the link between hospital noise on recovery is not fully understood, there are theories about sleep, aggravation/degradation of physical parameters, re-hospitalisation due to noise, and the effect of the low-frequency noise.

But it seems likely that all of the factors that negatively impact healthy people—that is, increasing blood pressure and worsening heart health, stress, and mental health—would hold for hospital patients. Especially when noise that has been studied as a source of poor health for general populations is present in hospital settings.

Whatever the causal factors, hospital noise continues to impede recovery. While some studies have suggested that there is no easy solution, thankfully, patients have some control over their environment. For example, noise cancelling headphones can assist, as can a sound masking system. However, until hospital install masking or other acoustic amelioration into their facilities, patients are better off finding a hospital in a quiet setting.

If you’re a hospital facilities manager, why not contact us to see how we can help?