“Noise Factory”: A qualitative study exploring healthcare providers’ perceptions of noise in the intensive care unit

Kebapçı, Ayda; Güner, Perihan

doi:10.1016/j.iccn.2020.102975

Cited by 17 publications

(18 citation statements)

References 57 publications

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“…Previous research in ICUs obtained similar results that healthcare professionals perceived telephone conversations, surveillance monitor alarms, and conversations among colleagues as the most disturbing and annoying among 11 common sound sources [29]. Recently, healthcare professionals also stated that the most frequent noises are those from speaking loudly, laughing, and shouting [37]. Similar results were found in studies using observers [34] and those asking patients [8,9,43] to identify disturbing sound sources at discharge.…”

Section: Disturbance From Sound Sourcessupporting

confidence: 66%

“…While there is evidence that healthcare professionals perceive the sound level in ICUs as too high, only few studies have attempted to evaluate what they consider as the most disturbing sound sources and how they perceive them [21,29,37]. Kooshanfar et al [38] determined the sources of noise and the related adverse effects from the perspective of nurses.…”

Section: Sound Perceptionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Perceived sounds and their reported level of disturbance in intensive care units: A multinational survey among healthcare professionals

et al. 2022

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Purpose The noise levels in intensive care units have been repeatedly reported to exceed the recommended guidelines and yield negative health outcomes among healthcare professionals. However, it is unclear which sound sources within this environment are perceived as disturbing. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate how healthcare professionals in Germany, Switzerland, and Austria perceive the sound levels and the associated sound sources within their work environment and explore sound reduction strategies. Material and methods An online survey was conducted among 350 healthcare professionals working in intensive care units. The survey consisted of items on demographic and hospital data and questions about the perception of the sound levels [1 (strongly disagree) to 5 (strongly agree)], disturbance from sound sources [1 (not disturbing at all) to 5 (very disturbing)], and implementation potential, feasibility, and motivation to reduce sound reduction measures [1 (not high at all) to 5 (very high)]. Results Approximately 69.3% of the healthcare professionals perceived the sound levels in the ICUs as too high. Short-lasting human sounds (e.g. moans or laughs) [mean (M) ± standard deviation (SD) = 3.30 ± 0.81], devices and alarms (M ± SD = 2.67 ± 0.59), and short-lasting object sounds (M ± SD = 2.55 ± 0.68) were perceived as the most disturbing sounds. Reducing medical equipment alarms was considered to have greater implementation potential [M ± SD = 3.62 ± 0.92, t(334) = -7.30, p < 0.001], feasibility [M ± SD = 3.19 ± 0.93, t(334) = -11.02, p < 0.001], and motivation [M ± SD = 3.85 ± 0.89, t(334) = -10.10, p < 0.001] for reducing the sound levels. Conclusion This study showed that healthcare professionals perceive short-lasting human sounds as most disturbing and rated reducing medical equipment alarms as the best approach to reduce the sound levels in terms of potential, feasibility, and motivation for implementation.

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Section: Disturbance From Sound Sourcessupporting

confidence: 66%

Section: Sound Perceptionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Perceived sounds and their reported level of disturbance in intensive care units: A multinational survey among healthcare professionals

et al. 2022

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“…Qualitative studies provide the possibility to gain more in depth knowledge of how the respondents add meaning to, relate to or cope with agents in the environment. A recent qualitative study using thematic analysis with staff working in an ICU in Turkey [ 14 ] found that “human-induced noise” was perceived to have a negative effect on work performance by disturbing concentration, having a negative effect on decision making and making it more likely to make mistakes. Moreover, the study found that if preventive measures were not systematically implemented, their effect was merely short lasting/momentary.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The experience of noise in communication-intense workplaces: A qualitative study

et al. 2023

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Objective The aim of the study was to explore and describe how workers in communication-intense workplaces in health care and preschools experience the sound environment. The dependence on vocal communication and social interaction poses a challenge using hearing protection in these working environments. Method A qualitative method was used, more specifically inductive thematic analysis was used, as this approach was deemed suitable to explore the staff’s experiences of the sound environment. Data were collected by interviews and to increase trustworthiness, several researchers were involved in the data collection and analysis. Study sample Workers from two preschools, one obstetrics ward and one intensive care unit took part in the study. Results Four main themes emerged from the thematic analysis: A challenging and harmful sound environment; Health-related effects of a challenging and harmful sound environment; A good sound environment is not prioritised; and Resourceful and motivated staff. Conclusions Workers in communication-intense workplaces in preschools, obstetrics care and intensive care reported that there was a relationship between the sound environment and negative health effects. In addition, the results suggests that the high motivation for change among staff should be utilised together with an increased prioritization from the management to reach innovative context specific improvements to the sound environment in communication intense working environments.

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“…A growing body of literature attests to noise’s adverse influence on patients’ sleep [ 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 ] and may contribute to hospital-acquired delirium [ 7 ]. Additionally, high sound levels are a source of staff stress [ 8 ]. Noise is a ubiquitous and noxious stimulus present in many hospital environments.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of Live Music on the Perception of Noise in the SICU/PICU: A Patient, Caregiver, and Medical Staff Environmental Study

Rossetti

Loewy

Chang-Lit³

et al. 2023

IJERPH

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Intensive Care Units (ICUs) require a multidisciplinary team that consists of, but is not limited to, intensivists (clinicians who specialize in critical illness care), pharmacists and nurses, respiratory care therapists, and other medical consultants from a broad range of specialties. The complex and demanding critical care environment provides few opportunities for patients and personal and professional caregivers to evaluate how sound effects them. A growing body of literature attests to noise’s adverse influence on patients’ sleep, and high sound levels are a source of staff stress, as noise is an ubiquitous and noxious stimuli. Vulnerable patients have a low threshold tolerance to audio-induced stress. Despite these indications, peak sound levels often register as high, as can ventilators, and the documented noise levels in hospitals continue to rise. This baseline study, carried out in two hospitals’ Surgical and Pediatric Intensive Care Units, measured the effects of live music on the perception of noise through surveying patients, personal caregivers and staff in randomized conditions of no music, and music as provided by music therapists through our hospital system’s environmental music therapy program.

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“Noise Factory”: A qualitative study exploring healthcare providers’ perceptions of noise in the intensive care unit

Cited by 17 publications

References 57 publications

Perceived sounds and their reported level of disturbance in intensive care units: A multinational survey among healthcare professionals

Perceived sounds and their reported level of disturbance in intensive care units: A multinational survey among healthcare professionals

The experience of noise in communication-intense workplaces: A qualitative study

Effects of Live Music on the Perception of Noise in the SICU/PICU: A Patient, Caregiver, and Medical Staff Environmental Study

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