Noise exposure among staff in intensive care units and the effects of unit-based noise management: a monocentric prospective longitudinal study
Abstract Background Intensive care units (ICUs) are often too noisy, exceeding 70–80 dBA, which can have negative effects on staff. The corresponding recommendation of the World Health Organization (average sound pressure level below 35 dBA) is often not achieved. To date there is a lack of interven...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2023-12-01
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| Series: | BMC Nursing |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12912-023-01611-3 |
| _version_ | 1797398088411774976 |
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| author | Christoph Armbruster Stefan Walzer Sandra Witek Sven Ziegler Erik Farin-Glattacker |
| author_facet | Christoph Armbruster Stefan Walzer Sandra Witek Sven Ziegler Erik Farin-Glattacker |
| author_sort | Christoph Armbruster |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Intensive care units (ICUs) are often too noisy, exceeding 70–80 dBA, which can have negative effects on staff. The corresponding recommendation of the World Health Organization (average sound pressure level below 35 dBA) is often not achieved. To date there is a lack of intervention studies examining the extent to which unit-based noise management in ICUs contributes to a reduction in noise exposure for the staff. The study therefore aims to provide answers to 1) how unit-based noise management sustainably reduces the subjective noise exposure among staff, and 2) how this intervention affects other noise-related topics. Methods We performed a monocentric prospective longitudinal study with three measurement points in a German university hospital in three ICUs. We collected data from different healthcare professionals and other professional groups between October 2021 and August 2022 using an online questionnaire. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inference statistics. Results A total of n = 179 participants took part in the surveys. The majority of participants were nurses or pediatric nurses. Most participants worked more than 75% full-time equivalent. Staff on the three ICUs reported high levels of noise exposure. No significant changes in noise exposure over time were observed. Participants were already aware of the topic and believed that a behavior change could positively influence the noise environment. Conclusions This study provides an initial insight into how a unit-based noise management could contribute to a reduction in the subjective noise exposure among staff in ICUs. The results of this study highlight the importance of this topic. Future studies should aim to research aspects of adherence and their facilitators or barriers, which promote the sustained implementation of noise-reducing measures by staff. Trial registration German Clinical Trials Register (DRKS): DRKS00025835; Date of registration: 12.08.2021. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T01:19:42Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-9862ac4dcca74575ab7e51c21f10b680 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1472-6955 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T01:19:42Z |
| publishDate | 2023-12-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Nursing |
| spelling | doaj.art-9862ac4dcca74575ab7e51c21f10b6802023-12-10T12:13:03ZengBMCBMC Nursing1472-69552023-12-0122111210.1186/s12912-023-01611-3Noise exposure among staff in intensive care units and the effects of unit-based noise management: a monocentric prospective longitudinal studyChristoph Armbruster0Stefan Walzer1Sandra Witek2Sven Ziegler3Erik Farin-Glattacker4Institute of Medical Biometry and Statistics (IMBI), Section of Health Care Research and Rehabilitation Research (SEVERA), Medical Center – University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of FreiburgFaculty of Health, Safety and Society, Care and Technology Lab, Furtwangen UniversityCenter of Implementing Nursing Care Innovations Freiburg, Medical Center – University of FreiburgCenter of Implementing Nursing Care Innovations Freiburg, Medical Center – University of FreiburgInstitute of Medical Biometry and Statistics (IMBI), Section of Health Care Research and Rehabilitation Research (SEVERA), Medical Center – University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of FreiburgAbstract Background Intensive care units (ICUs) are often too noisy, exceeding 70–80 dBA, which can have negative effects on staff. The corresponding recommendation of the World Health Organization (average sound pressure level below 35 dBA) is often not achieved. To date there is a lack of intervention studies examining the extent to which unit-based noise management in ICUs contributes to a reduction in noise exposure for the staff. The study therefore aims to provide answers to 1) how unit-based noise management sustainably reduces the subjective noise exposure among staff, and 2) how this intervention affects other noise-related topics. Methods We performed a monocentric prospective longitudinal study with three measurement points in a German university hospital in three ICUs. We collected data from different healthcare professionals and other professional groups between October 2021 and August 2022 using an online questionnaire. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inference statistics. Results A total of n = 179 participants took part in the surveys. The majority of participants were nurses or pediatric nurses. Most participants worked more than 75% full-time equivalent. Staff on the three ICUs reported high levels of noise exposure. No significant changes in noise exposure over time were observed. Participants were already aware of the topic and believed that a behavior change could positively influence the noise environment. Conclusions This study provides an initial insight into how a unit-based noise management could contribute to a reduction in the subjective noise exposure among staff in ICUs. The results of this study highlight the importance of this topic. Future studies should aim to research aspects of adherence and their facilitators or barriers, which promote the sustained implementation of noise-reducing measures by staff. Trial registration German Clinical Trials Register (DRKS): DRKS00025835; Date of registration: 12.08.2021.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12912-023-01611-3Intensive care unitsNoiseHealthHealth personnelIntervention |
| spellingShingle | Christoph Armbruster Stefan Walzer Sandra Witek Sven Ziegler Erik Farin-Glattacker Noise exposure among staff in intensive care units and the effects of unit-based noise management: a monocentric prospective longitudinal study BMC Nursing Intensive care units Noise Health Health personnel Intervention |
| title | Noise exposure among staff in intensive care units and the effects of unit-based noise management: a monocentric prospective longitudinal study |
| title_full | Noise exposure among staff in intensive care units and the effects of unit-based noise management: a monocentric prospective longitudinal study |
| title_fullStr | Noise exposure among staff in intensive care units and the effects of unit-based noise management: a monocentric prospective longitudinal study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Noise exposure among staff in intensive care units and the effects of unit-based noise management: a monocentric prospective longitudinal study |
| title_short | Noise exposure among staff in intensive care units and the effects of unit-based noise management: a monocentric prospective longitudinal study |
| title_sort | noise exposure among staff in intensive care units and the effects of unit based noise management a monocentric prospective longitudinal study |
| topic | Intensive care units Noise Health Health personnel Intervention |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12912-023-01611-3 |
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