[Noise conditions inside waiting rooms of primary care clinics]

to explore the acoustic noise conditions of the waiting rooms in primary care facilities and to evaluate whether the ambient noise level was within the recommended levels for these facilities.

the waiting rooms of four primary care clinics located in the south of Mexico City were tested. Several recording points homogeneously distributed and close to the seats of the users were chosen. In each recording point, four recordings of the ambient noise were carried out in intervals of 20 to 40 minutes; this was done during the provision of care. The day in which the recordings were made was randomly selected. The values of the specifications used in the analysis of the ambient noise levels were determined in the laboratory.

the ambient noise level of the waiting rooms in each of the four clinics was above 55 dB-A. This level is considered as the threshold of annoyance. In one of the clinics, the level exceeded 65 dB-A. The chief contributors to the noise were the conversations of the people that were at the waiting room or in adjacent rooms, and in some cases the sound from the TV sets.

the study showed that the ambient noise level passed the upper limits indicated by The American National Standard Institute. It is appropriate to define criteria to guarantee suitable noise conditions inside health care facilities and to revise current Mexican standards.