Measuring the recurring frequency of noise producing sources in intensive care units (ICUs) of a tertiary care hospital in India

Abstract

ABSTRACT Multiple sources contribute to the increased level of noise in a Hospital, which is way beyond the WHO recommendation limit of 35 dBA. The intensive care units contain many sources of noise, such as aspirators, monitors, mechanical ventilators, computers, printers, air conditioning vents, intercoms, staff, and doors. These sources are controllable but are overlooked. The objective of the present study is to identify the frequency of noise-producing sources in three intensive care units-Medical ICU, Neuro ICU, and Cardiac CU which were selected based on the feedback from patients. Data were collected in three shifts and included the identification of sources of sound and their classification into four categories. A sound level meter was used to record the data. Two extremes and one centre of each ICU were marked to take consistent readings in a template on an hourly basis. The average noise levels in all the 3 ICUs in the morning shift was 72.33 dBA, the afternoon shift was 72.15 dBA, and at night was 69.65 dBA. The most recurring noise sources were identified as monitor beeps (88.62%), and verbal communications (83.86%). The median intervals of the majority of the readings were between 65.1 and 70 dBA.