A survey methodology for noise in hospital wards

Abstract

Noise pollution is considered one of the most disturbing environmental factors, especially for vulnerable people, such as children, the elderly, people who are sick or who must live for a specific period in the hospital, in the latter case, for example, the excessive noise level can also negatively affect the recovery process. Hospitals include a variety of different spaces with different requirements and levels of noise sensitivity, but also different activities and equipment that can cause disturbing noise levels. Several studies highlight how exposure to inadequate noise levels within hospital environments causes discomfort for all users (patients, staff, and visitors), leading to sleep disturbances, communication interference, aggression, annoyance, and stress. The paper proposes a survey methodology to be applied within hospital wards to investigate the most disturbing sources and users' perceptions of them, by acoustic characterization measurements, long-term measurements, and interviews and questionnaires aimed at patients and staff.