Perceived Noise Levels in Intensive Care Units and Their Self-Reported Adverse Effects on Nurses in Saudi Arabia: A...

Background/Objectives: Intensive care units (ICUs) are acoustically demanding environments in which nurses are continuously exposed to alarms, medical equipment, and staff activity. This study assessed ICU nurses' perceived internal and external noise levels and their perceived noise-related adverse effects, and examined whether these perceptions differed according to demographic and work-related characteristics. Methods: A cross-sectional design was used with 244 ICU nurses in Saudi Arabia. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire adapted to assess perceived internal and external ICU noise and four effect domains (subjective, emotional, physiological, and work performance). Results: Perceived ICU noise was moderate (internal 64.68; external 64.51). Effect-domain means were 50.95 (subjective), 54.67 (emotional), 54.74 (physiological), and 51.28 (work performance). Female nurses scored significantly higher than male nurses for internal and external noise and for subjective, emotional, and physiological effects (all p < 0.05). Staff nurses, rotating-shift nurses, and nurses with <5 years of ICU experience reported higher effects in several domains; significant differences were also found by age group, marital status, and work-shift pattern. In multivariable models adjusting for all characteristics simultaneously, staff-nurse role, female gender and rotating shift remained independently associated with higher scores, whereas age group and years of ICU experience did not. Conclusions: ICU noise was perceived as a significant occupational stressor, with certain nurse subgroups reporting greater adverse effects. Healthcare organizations should prioritize comprehensive noise-reduction policies, effective alarm management, and targeted support strategies to mitigate noise-related impacts on nurses and improve the ICU work environment.