Evaluating hospital soundscapes to improve patient experience

Abstract

Patients routinely perceive hospital soundscapes to be poor when rating their experience on HCAHPS (Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems) surveys administered after discharge. In this study, sound levels within five hospital units were correlated with HCAHPS noise perception survey data. Acoustic metrics including A-weighted equivalent, minimum, and maximum (LAEQ, LAMIN, & LAMAX) and C-weighted peak (LCPEAK) sound pressure levels, occurrence rate, and speech intelligibility index were evaluated in 15 patient rooms and 5 nursing stations. Average patient room LAEQ values within the five units ranged between 52 dBA and 61 dBA with speech intelligibility ranging from poor (<0.45) to marginal (0.45 to 0.75). The absolute minimum values measured within the patient rooms (LAMIN, LCMIN, & LZMIN) were found to be correlated with HCAHPS data and other metrics revealed trends consistent with patient perception. For example, the lowest rated unit also had higher occurrence rates, indicating this unit was louder more often. Ceiling type was also found to impact sound levels with LAEQ 5 dBA quieter on average for rooms utilizing acoustic tile ceilings. Taken as a whole, these results provide insight into acoustic metrics and design strategies which can ultimately be utilized to improve patient experience.