Noise pollution in a tertiary hospital and the impact on patient health and staff productivity

Abstract

Background: Excessive noise production is a daily feature in many parts of the world, noise has also crept into hospital environments. Many factors are responsible for noise pollution leading to growing concern over high noise levels in hospitals and the effect on patients’ health and staff’s productivity.

Objective: This study sought to determine the hospital personnel perceptions on the effect of noise on productivity, and patient’s perception on noise levels within a large tertiary hospital.

Methods: Focus Group Discussions (FGD) and Key In-depth Interviews (KII) were conducted to generate themes/issues/questions from hospital personnel and staff/relations respectively.  Participants in the FGD were selected from the wards using a multistage sampling technique. Stratified random sampling was used to select participants for KII. The FGD and KII sessions were transcribed, and a codebook was developed with broad codes, fine codes, and their definitions to reflect and describe the resulting themes. A thematic approach was used for the analysis.

Results: Hospital sources of noise were grouped into two categories: noise originating within the wards such as staff conversation and equipment’s like monitors, mechanical ventilators; and noise originating outside the wards such as electricity generating sets and engineering works. Noise was identified as a disruptor of communication and concentration leading to reduced productivity. Noise pollution also affected patients’ health by causing headaches and sleeplessness.

Conclusion: Noise pollution within hospitals emanates from diverse sources, reducing staff productivity and impairing patients’ health. A multi-pronged approach is required to reduce hospital noise pollution.