title: Multi-center study of noise in patients from hospitals in Spain: a questionnaire survey.
abstract: To identify the most annoying noises in the hospital environment. One hundred and ninety-three patients took part in the study. A questionnaire collected the perceptions of patients from four hospitals in Spain, with three distinct units. The most annoying noises were the repetitive ones and the most unbearable source was the people who talk loudly. The daily hours were the noisiest and the most annoying, especially when patients wanted to rest and indicated that noise was annoying for them to get to sleep. Our results demonstrate how sensitive patients are toward noise in Spain. We also suggest some strategies to reduce the noise and the harmful physiological effects of increased sound levels in order to improve the quality of life in a healthcare environment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing and Physiotherapy, University College of Health Sciences, University of León (Ponferrada Campus), León, Spain. pilar.marques@unileon.es
authors.forename: Pilar
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Marqués
authors.forename: Dolores
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Calvo
authors.forename: Mari Paz
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Mompart
authors.forename: Natalia
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Arias
authors.forename: Enedina
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Quiroga
mesh_terms: D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006761:Hospitals; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009622:Noise; D010361:Patients / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012893:Sleep Wake Disorders / Q000209:etiology*; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires