Effects of intensive care unit ambient sounds on healthcare professionals: results of an online survey and noise exposure in an experimental setting

Abstract

Background Noise levels on intensive care units (ICUs) are typically elevated. While many studies reported negative effects of ICU ambient sounds on patients, only few investigated noise as a factor to influence well-being or performance in healthcare professionals. Methods An online survey in the German-speaking part of Switzerland was conducted to assess how ICU soundscapes are subjectively perceived by healthcare professionals. The questionnaire was answered by 348 participants. Additionally, effects of noise on working memory performance were evaluated in an experimental noise exposure setting. Twenty-six healthcare professionals and 27 healthy controls performed a 2-back object-location task while being exposed to either ICU or pink noise. Results Survey results demonstrate that a majority of participants was aware of heightened noise levels. Participants reported that mostly well-being, performance, and attention could be reduced, along with subjective annoyance and fatigue by ICU ambient sounds. Although no significant effects of noise exposure on working memory performance was observed, self-assessments revealed significantly higher stress levels, increased annoyance and distraction ratings as well as decreased confidence in performance after ICU-noise exposure. Conclusion Subjective assessments indicate that heightened noise levels on ICUs induce annoyance, with heightened stress levels, impaired well-being, and reduced performance being potential consequences. Empirical evidence with objective and physiological measures is warranted.

Methods for Measuring and Identifying Sounds in the Intensive Care Unit

“…The checklists used for identifying or grouping sound sources is also unique to each paper and often difficult to replicate due to a lack of details. The checklists may be made up of more generalized groups ( 2 , 9 ), while others may use more detailed lists or include additional precisions per group ( 3 , 4 , 9 , 25 ). As such, it is relevant to the field to tackle this lack of consistency so that progress can be made in reducing high sound pressure levels, an issue that concerns hospitals worldwide ( 1 , 2 , 4 , 9 , 26 ).…”

Influence of noise manipulation on retention in a simulated ICU ward round: an experimental pilot study

“…Intensive Care Unit (ICU) professionals are exposed to a lot of noise in their ICU work environment [ 1 , 2 ]. This raises concerns as noise has been found to have a negative impact on cognitive performance in other occupational settings [ 3 ].…”

“…patient alarms, coughing, yelling, preparing medication, and equipment sounds), is defined as noise when there is a negative perception associated to it [ 6 , 7 ]. This is the case for ICU professionals, as they perceive the aforementioned sounds in their environment as being negative [ 2 ]. Heightened noise levels in ICUs have subjectively been found to induce annoyance and stress, decrease overall well-being, and reduce work performance [ 2 ].…”

“…This is the case for ICU professionals, as they perceive the aforementioned sounds in their environment as being negative [ 2 ]. Heightened noise levels in ICUs have subjectively been found to induce annoyance and stress, decrease overall well-being, and reduce work performance [ 2 ]. However, as noise is subjective it may in certain circumstances not be perceived negatively, for example for some people the phone ringing may be associated with a positive reaction or memory.…”

Spatiotemporal Assessment Of The Effect of Indoor Noise On Annoyance, Health And Comfort In Hospital Wards And Intensive Care Unit

“…These complaints due to high noise levels across the various wards and ICU were not different from what has been revealed in previous studies. A study found that both children and parents have experienced poor sleep in hospital wards than home with a sleep e ciency level of 77% versus 83.2% and 77.1% versus 88.9%, respectively following hospital exposure levels of 48.6 dB (A)(Bevan et al, 2019).Response from 348 participants shows that sound pressure levels in the ICU induce stress and affect occupant's well-beings including contributing to reduction in comfort levels(Schmidt et al, 2020). Apart from annoyance, noise exposures have been associated with an increased number of awakenings, and a decrease in sleep durations caused by frequent rapid eye movement in a typical ICU room during night times(Wallace et al, 1999).…”