Sound Pollution in Intensive Care Units and Emergency Wards

Introduction:the improvement of technology has increased noise levels in hospital wards to higher thaninternational standard levels (35-45 db). higher noise levels than the maximum level result inpatient's instability and dissatisfaction. moreover, it will have serious negative effects on thestaffs health and the quality of their services. the purpose of this survey is to analyze thelevel of noise in intensive care units and emergency wards of the imam reza teachinghospital, mashhad.procedure:this research was carried out in november 2009 during morning shifts between 7:30 to 12:00.noise levels were measured 10 times at 30-minute intervals in the nursing stations of 10 wardsof the emergency, the intensive care units, and the nephrology and kidney transplantdepartments of imam reza university hospital, mashhad. the noise level in the nursingstations was tested for both the maximum level (lmax) and the equalizing level (leq). theresearch was based on the comparison of equalizing levels (leq) because maximum levelswere unstable.results:in our survey the average level (leq) in all wards was much higher than the standard level.the maximum level (lmax) in most wards was 85-86 db and just in one measurement in theinternal icu reached 94 db. the average level of leq in all wards was 60.2 db. in emergencyunits, it was 62.2 db, but it was not time related. the highest average level (leq) wasmeasured at 11:30 am and the peak was measured in the nephrology nursing station.conclusion:the average levels of noise in intensive care units and also emergency wards were more thanthe standard levels and as it is known these wards have vital roles in treatment procedures, somore attention is needed in this area.