title: A rehabilitation unit at night: environmental characteristics of patient rooms.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was first of all to investigate the sound, light, temperature and humidity levels in a rehabilitation ward and to establish whether the measured levels were within the recommended levels or not; secondly to explore influence of the type of the patient rooms on obtained measurements.
  
  
  METHODS
  Measurements of environmental characteristics were recorded on three non-consecutive nights by data loggers in a 12-bedded residential neurological rehabilitation unit for patients with disorders of consciousness. The obtained measurements were compared with the recommendations of the World Health Organization and the Society of Light and Lighting.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Recordings were within recommended levels for light and humidity overnight. Average noise levels were above the recommended levels. There were abrupt increases of light and noise levels which were high enough to cause sleep fragmentation. Mean temperature levels were higher than recommended.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results indicated that the patients are at risk of disturbed sleep for the duration of their stay in rehabilitation unit. Exposure to generally high noise levels, as well as the sudden increases of noise and light intensities can prevent reaching restful night-time sleep and may negatively impact on rehabilitation process due to impaired memory, learning and well-being. Implications for Rehabilitation Standards for ward based hospital environments to minimize sleep disturbance exist and can be used to examine the environmental characteristics of patients' rooms in different healthcare settings including rehabilitation units. This study shows that measurements of environmental factors were not always within the recommended levels in the rehabilitation unit and presence of abrupt increase of noise and light levels are likely to cause sleep disturbance of patients. Assessment of current practice, education and training of night staff to raise awareness on importance of sleep and environmental factors and development of strategies are required in order to improve quality of sleep in rehabilitation settings.
authors.affiliation: Research Department, Royal Hospital for Neuro-Disability , London , UK and.
authors.forename: Kudret
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yelden
authors.forename: Sophie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Duport
authors.forename: Agnieszka
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kempny
authors.forename: E Diane
authors.initials: ED
authors.lastname: Playford
mesh_terms: D003244:Consciousness Disorders / Q000534:rehabilitation; D006272:Health Facility Environment; D006801:Humans; D006813:Humidity; D008027:Light; D008131:London; D009622:Noise; D010362:Patients' Rooms; D012047:Rehabilitation Centers; D012890:Sleep; D013696:Temperature
keywords: Environment; humidity; light; noise; rehabilitation; rehabilitation unit; temperature