The effectiveness of environmental strategies on noise reduction in a pediatric intensive care unit: creation of single-patient bedrooms and reducing noise sources.
OBJECTIVE
Noise is a substantial problem for both patients and healthcare workers in hospitals. This study aimed to determine the effectiveness of environmental strategies (creating single-patient rooms and reducing noise sources) in noise reduction in a pediatric intensive care unit.


METHODS
Noise measurement in the unit was conducted in two phases. In the first phase, measurements aimed at determining the unit's present level of noise were performed over 4 weeks in December 2013. During the month following the first measurement phase, the intensive care unit (ICU) was moved to a new location and noise-reducing strategies were implemented. The second phase, in May 2014, measured noise levels in the newly constructed environment.


RESULTS
The noise levels before and after environmental changes were statistically significant at 72.6 dB-A and 56 dB-A, respectively (p < .05).


CONCLUSIONS
Single-patient rooms and noise-reducing strategies can be effective in controlling environmental noise in the ICU.
Faculty of Nursing, Akdeniz University, Antalya, Turkey.
Emine
E
Kol
Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, Akdeniz University Hospital, Antalya, Turkey.
Perihan
P
Aydın
Faculty of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Intensive Care, Akdeniz University, Antalya, Turkey.
Oguz
O
Dursun
D002648:Child; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006272:Health Facility Environment; D006801:Humans; D015278:Intensive Care Units, Pediatric / Q000458:organization & administration*; D008297:Male; D009622:Noise / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000517:prevention & control*; D009623:Noise, Occupational / Q000517:prevention & control*; D010362:Patients' Rooms / Q000458:organization & administration*; D040242:Risk Reduction Behavior
Noise control; noise source; pediatric intensive care; single-patient room