Environmental noise in hospitals: a systematic review

Area of Science:

• Environmental Health
• Acoustics
• Healthcare Management

Background:

• Rising environmental noise poses significant health risks.
• Hospitals, as sensitive environments, require special attention due to noise impacts on patients and healthcare professionals.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review scientific articles on environmental noise measurements in hospitals from 2015 to 2020.
• To analyze noise levels, contributing fields, and geographical distribution of hospital noise research.

Main Methods:

• Systematic review of studies from Scopus, Web of Science, and ScienceDirect databases.
• Analysis of noise measurements (Leq) in hospital environments, including intensive care units.
• Inclusion of studies referencing World Health Organization sound level guidelines.

Main Results:

• Studies are predominantly published in medicine, engineering, environmental sciences, acoustics, and nursing journals.
• Noise measurements (Leq) in hospitals ranged from 37 to 88.6 dB(A) during the day and 38.7 to 68.8 dB(A) at night.
• Outdoor noise levels were recorded at 74.3 dB(A) during the day and 56.6 dB(A) at night.

Conclusions:

• Hospital noise levels vary significantly, with some exceeding recommended guidelines.
• Further research should focus on developing and implementing effective noise reduction strategies in healthcare facilities.
• Interdisciplinary collaboration is crucial for addressing hospital noise pollution.