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[Environmental noise levels in 2 intensive care units in a tertiary care centre]
José Manuel Ornelas-Aguirre1, Olivia Zárate-Coronado2, Fabiola Gaxiola-González3
1División de Investigación en Salud, Hospital de Especialidades No. 2, Unidad Médica de Alta Especialidad, Centro Médico Nacional del Noroeste, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, ciudad Obregón, Sonora, México; Departamento de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad de Sonora, Campus Cajéme, Obregón, Sonora, México.
Introduction:
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has established a maximum noise level of 40 decibels (dB) for an intensive care unit. The aim of this study was to compare the noise levels in 2 different intensive care units at a tertiary care centre.
Methods:
Using a cross-sectional design study, an analysis was made of the maximum noise level was within the intensive coronary care unit and intensive care unit using a digital meter. A measurement was made in 4 different points of each room, with 5minute intervals, for a period of 60minutes 7:30, 14:30, and 20:30. The means of the observations were compared with descriptive statistics and Mann-Whitney U. An analysis with Kruskal-Wallis test was performed to the mean noise level.
Results:
The noise observed in the intensive care unit had a mean of 64.77±3.33dB (P=.08), which was similar to that in the intensive coronary care unit, with a mean of 60.20±1.58dB (P=.129). Around 25% or more of the measurements exceeded the level recommended by the WHO by up to 20 points.
Conclusions:
Noise levels measured in intensive care wards exceed the maximum recommended level for a hospital. It is necessary to design and implement actions for greater participation of health personnel in the reduction of environmental noise.