A Bayesian network model to predict the role of hospital noise, annoyance, and sensitivity in quality of patient care

Abstract

Background Hospital noise can adversely impact nurses’ health, their cognitive function and emotion and in turn, influence the quality of patient care and patient safety. Thus, the aim of this study was to predict the contributing roles of exposure to hospital noise, staff noise-sensitivity and annoyance, on the quality of patient care. Methods This descriptive and cross-sectional study was carried out among nurses in an Iranian hospital. To determine nurses’ noise exposure level, the noise was measured in 1510 locations across the hospital in accordance with ISO 9612 standards using KIMO DB 300/2 sound level meter and analyzer. An online survey was used to collect nurses’ individual data. Study questionnaires included demographics, Weinstein noise sensitivity scale, noise annoyance scale, and quality of patient care scale. Finally, to analyze the data, Bayesian Networks (BNs), as probabilistic and graphical models, were used. Results For the high noise exposure state, high noise sensitivity, and high annoyance, with the probability of 100%, the probability of delivering a desirable quality of patient care decreased by 21, 14, and 23%, respectively. Moreover, at the concurrently high noise exposure and high noise sensitivity with the probability of 100%, the desirable quality of patient care decreased by 26%. The Bayesian most influence value was related to the association of noise exposure and annoyance (0.636). Moreover, annoyance had the highest association with the physical aspect of quality of care (0.400) and sensitivity had the greatest association with the communication aspect (0.283). Conclusion Annoyance induced from environmental noise and personal sensitivity affected the quality of patient care adversely. Moreover, noise and sensitivity had a separate direct adverse effect upon the quality of patient care, and their co-occurrence reduced the potential for delivering quality patient care.

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“…In addition, the study also emphasises that noise and sensitivity had a separate direct adverse effect on the quality of patient care and their co‐occurrence potentially reduced the quality of patient care (Abbasi et al, 2022). Abbasi et al (2022) expect that noise‐sensitive nurses release more stress hormones, reducing their performance and, in turn, the quality of patient care provided. In addition to the subjective and psychological effects, noise sensitivity can trigger some physiological responses, such as cardiovascular disease, hypertension and immune response.…”

“…Furthermore, the effect of sensory overload on the nurses seems to follow the biomedical theory of sensory adaptation not recognising the stimulation, or in other cases/ situations, the theory of 'fight and flight', activating the autonomic nervous system, and more specifically, the sympathetic nervous system (Bojsen-Møller & Nielsen, 2019), as the nurses described heart palpitations and sometimes fear. The quantitative study by Abbasi et al (2022) exploring the effect of noise in a hospital setting concluded that hospital noise is an environmental stressor for both patients and nurses. In addition, the study also emphasises that noise and sensitivity had a separate direct adverse effect on the quality of patient care and their co-occurrence potentially reduced the quality of patient care (Abbasi et al, 2022).…”

“…The quantitative study by Abbasi et al (2022) exploring the effect of noise in a hospital setting concluded that hospital noise is an environmental stressor for both patients and nurses. In addition, the study also emphasises that noise and sensitivity had a separate direct adverse effect on the quality of patient care and their co-occurrence potentially reduced the quality of patient care (Abbasi et al, 2022). Abbasi et al (2022) expect that noise-sensitive nurses release more stress hormones, reducing their performance and, in turn, the quality of patient care provided.…”

“…They conclude that noise sensitivity and noise exposure thereby can make job stress worse (Abbasi et al, 2022).…”

“…Thus, they argue that noise sensitivity can have negative psychological and physiological effects due to cortisol secretion as the main cause of increased stress that will have a significant adverse effect on individual performance. They conclude that noise sensitivity and noise exposure thereby can make job stress worse (Abbasi et al, 2022).…”