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Impact of Noise on Nurses in Pediatric Intensive Care Units

Watson, J'ai
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1378393887

Abstract Details

2013, MS, University of Cincinnati, Medicine: Industrial Hygiene (Environmental Health).
Objective: To measure the impact of noise on nurses’ heart rates in pediatric intensive care units. Design: Cross-sectional study using direct observation techniques. Setting: The neonatal intensive care unit, the cardiac intensive care unit, and the pediatric intensive care unit at a single urban pediatric hospital. Subjects: Eighteen registered nurses, six from each unit, were observed. Methods: Each nurse was observed during patient care for a 4-hr period. Heart rate and sound pressure level were recorded continuously using personal heart rate monitors and dosimeters (personal and hand-held) while stress ratings were collected pre-, mid-, and post-observation. Variables assessed as potential confounders were age, height, weight, BMI, years of nursing experience, caffeine intake, and patient census. Descriptive statistics were computed to determine the mean and standard deviations for the different effects. A repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) with a within-subjects design was utilized to determine if noise and heart rate were impacted by the independent variables with post-hoc test in the form of Tukey honest difference test to determine source of the differences. Kruskal-Wallis Test was utilized to determine any differences resulted from the stress indices across assessments. Correlations between noise and heart rate were computed overall and blocked on the different independent variables. Main Results: Overall, the average sound pressure level was about 78 dBA, with a range between 50 and 101 dBA. While the overall average heart rate was greater than 75 bmp, some activities and locations had a significant influence on heart rate. The neonatal intensive care unit recorded the highest average sound pressure level as well as heart rate. The maximum distribution of noise recordings were found in patient rooms; during support activities and employee interactions; and caused by staff communication. Mild correlations between noise and heart rate were significant as a function of unit, location, activity, and source. Conclusions: Overall, the results indicate that intensive care units have high levels of noise which are driven by communication between nurses and patients and in-room equipment. Further, these levels require immediate attention through effective interventions—engineering controls and behavioral changes. While the impact of noise on heart rate is less conclusive, mild correlations were found and may indicate that noise can produce adverse health outcomes (e.g. elevate cardiovascular risk). The bottom line is that ICUs have significant amount of noise that can adversely impact the nurse as well as the patient.
Kermit Davis, Ph.D. (Committee Chair)
Nancy Daraiseh, PhD (Committee Member)
Susan Kotowski, Ph.D. (Committee Member)
54 p.
Occupational Safety
Noise; Heart Rate; Nursing; Intensive Care Units; Pediatrics

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Watson, J. (2013). Impact of Noise on Nurses in Pediatric Intensive Care Units [Master's thesis, University of Cincinnati]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1378393887

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Watson, J'ai. Impact of Noise on Nurses in Pediatric Intensive Care Units. 2013. University of Cincinnati, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1378393887.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Watson, J'ai. "Impact of Noise on Nurses in Pediatric Intensive Care Units." Master's thesis, University of Cincinnati, 2013. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1378393887

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

ucin1378393887
764
© 2013, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by University of Cincinnati and OhioLINK.