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High noise levels in hospitals can affect patients’ well-being, staff productivity, and medical error rates. This study measured noise in two intensive care units (ICUs) in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). An occupant’s survey and a continuous field sampling were conducted in May and June 2021 in each ICU, using a T Tocas SL 1361 digital sou...
Citations
... Noise, as an unwanted sound, carries high risks for those exposed to it, resulting in various health challenges, both physiological and psychological to well-being (Nyembwe et al., 2023). According to NIOSH, (2018),about 22 million workers in the US are exposed to which corresponds to noise in the work area. ...
Background: The era of industrialization characterized by mechanization, electrification, modernization and the latest technological transformation can lead to processes that generate noise in the workplace. Noise in the workplace can cause noise exposure in the workplace can cause hearing loss and work stress. Therefore, it is important to understand the relationship between workplace noise levels and workers' stress levels. Research purposes: Finding the shape of the contour of worker noise levels and its relationship with worker stress levels. Research methods: Using a cross-sectional design, with a sample size of 78 workers determined using the Accidental Sampling method. Statistical analysis uses the Pearson correlation test. Research result: Shows that the shape of the noise contour is determined by variations in the noise level from the noise source varying from lowest to highest (87.2 dB, 89.9 dB, 91.8 dB, 93.4 dB, 94 dB, 95.6 dB, 100 dB, 101.3 dB, 105.5 dB). Noise exceeding the threshold value reflects the contour shape in some areas. Powerplant noise areas above the threshold value are found in ( Power Plant Lubricating Oil Tank (87.2 dB), Power Plant 1 Boiler Blowdown Tank (94 dB), Power Plant Pump Pipe (91.8 dB), Power Plant 1 Turbine (101 .3 dB), Air Drayer Installation Powerplant (93.4 dB), Plant Process Area noise above the threshold value in several areas ( Concentrator Process Plant (105 dB) BallMill Process Plant (100 dB), Area Concentrator Process Plant (98.8 dB), Concentrate Tank Process Plant (95.6 dB), Fixed Plant Area noise above the threshold value occurred at ( Slacker (89.9 dB), Concentrator (98.8 dB), Concentrate Tank (95.6 dB), and Cleaner Flotation (100 dB). Meanwhile in the Mining area, the highest noise is related to activities such as Exca-2000 Mining (105.5 dB), Drilling Diamond Mining (100 dB), and Drilling RC Mining (105.5 dB). The level of work stress shows that out of a total of 78 workers, 63 of them (around 11.1%) experienced severe stress, while there were no workers who experienced moderate levels of work stress out of a total of 15 workers involved in this research. This research found that there is a very weak and negative correlation between noise levels and work stress on noise risk. The results of the analysis show that the relationship between noise and work stress and noise risk has a correlation value of -0.112. Even though there is a weak negative relationship between these variables, this correlation is not statistically significant with a p-value of 0.327. Conclusion: This research concludes that noise levels in the workplace vary and come from various sources with different intensities. Several areas at PT. X, such as Powerplant, Process Plant, Fixed Plant, and Mining area, have noise that exceeds the threshold value. Research also finds that most workers experience high levels of work stress. Although there was a negative correlation between noise and job stress, the relationship was not statistically significant.
... For example, average noise levels measured for 24 h from three ICUs in the UK varied from 54.9 to 58.6 dBA. Excessive noise levels in ICUs were still observed in low-income or lower-resourced settings including China [7,14] and the Democratic Republic of Congo [15], and it was a significant burden during the COVID-19 pandemic [7]. Among noise sources, conversation and nursing activities seem to produce higher noise levels than alarms and medical devices [7,16]. ...
Purpose: This study aims to explore the suitability of using smartphone applications with low-cost external microphones in measuring noise levels in intensive care units. Methods: Four apps and two external microphones were tested in a laboratory by generating test signals at five noise levels. The average noise levels were measured using the apps and a professional device (i.e. a sound level meter). A field test was performed in an intensive care unit with two apps and one microphone. Noise levels were measured in terms of average and maximum noise levels according to the World Health Organisation's guidance. All the measurements in both tests were conducted after acoustic calibration using a sound calibrator. Results: Overall, apps with low-cost external microphones produced reliable results of averaged noise levels in both the laboratory and field settings. The differences between the apps and the sound level meter were within ±2 dB. In the field test, the best combination of app and microphone showed negligible difference (< 2 dB) compared to the sound level meter in terms of the average noise level. However, the maximum noise level measured by the apps exhibited significant differences from those measured by the sound level meter, ranging from − 0.9 dB to − 4.7 dB. Conclusion: Smartphone apps and low-cost external microphones can be used reliably to measure the average noise level in the intensive care unit after acoustic calibration. However, professional equipment is still necessary for accurate measurement of the maximum noise level.
... Only a few studies have evaluated the IEQ parameters of buildings and mobile indoor spaces in the developing tropics [5], which contributes to justifying the reason for the current study. In the following section, a few studies of the IEQ parameters in train transport microenvironments are now referenced according to the specific parameters investigated, unique findings, and recommendations where applicable. ...
The adequacy of the indoor environmental quality (IEQ) in mass transit microenvironments is crucial to the well-being of exposed commuters. By 2050, many developing tropical countries will host even more megacities, which will feature an increase in people mobility and higher occupancy density. The paucity of IEQ studies, the technology gap, and inadequate policy measures to assure safer and sustainable mobility in many developing tropics have reinforced the current study objective. Also, the recent COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the IEQ links and risks to health in transport, which, given the climate peculiarities, transport reforms, and huge commuter traffic in Nigeria, inform the study motivation. The indoor air quality (CO2, PM, VOCs, NO2), thermal, acoustic, and visual environments were objectively assessed in train passenger cabins and waiting areas, during 15 trips in the dry and rainy seasons in Nigeria. The results were analyzed by following the IEQ requirements defined in the ISO, CEN, ASHRAE, and SAE standards. The results indicate gaps in the IAQ (inadequate ventilation in 9 trains), defective thermal comfort (9 trains), exceedance in the PM limit (PM10: 47.9–115 μg/m3, PM2.5: 22.5–51.3 μg/m3), noise (Leq range: 64–85 dBA), and low illuminance levels (10 trains), hence the need for IEQ, interventions, stakeholder awareness, and broader IEQ studies on transport cabins in these regions.
... The poor lighting in hospitals can affect a nurse's level of fatigue and performance and it can lead to errors in dispensing medication [33,34]. Moreover, the acoustic comfort can impact the performance and productivity of the doctors and nurses in hospitals, as well as the patients' well-being [35,36]. Therefore, employing energy-and cost-efficient interventions, such as the use of passive enhancements like light shelves [37,38] and reflective roof insulations, and active strategies like hybrid photovoltaic/thermal solar systems and low-energy heat pump systems [39], are suitable recommendations for developing tropical countries. ...
An indoor climate impacts human comfort, well-being, and safety. Therefore, it remains an important topic since, nowadays, people spend a significant amount of time indoors. Additionally, as tropical geographical zones become more populated, urbanised, and industrialised, the energy demand for air conditioning will rise significantly. In terms of the indoor climate, hospitals are particularly demanding due to the special needs of their occupants, however there is a paucity of studies about the tropics. Through a systematic analysis of accessible data and peer-reviewed articles, this study performed a quantitative and qualitative review of the scientific studies selected by the defined inclusion and exclusion parameters. A total of 65 tropics-related scientific publications, 28 on indoor thermal comfort and 37 on indoor air quality published between 2000 and 2023, were systematically reviewed. This study’s findings corroborated those from the previous studies, alluding that there is a paucity of scientific studies on the indoor climate conditions of buildings in tropical countries. A total of 42 studies (65%) were conducted in Asia and 15 studies (23%) in Africa. Six studies (9%) were reported in South America and two studies (3%) were obtained from Oceania, Australia. The results indicated that tropical Africa recorded the lowest number of indoor climate studies considering the population indices. Many of the reviewed indoor climate studies employed mixed methods, whereas only very few considered a seasonal approach. Meanwhile, in the developing tropics, only one record was found regarding an indoor climate study of hospitals based on their locations (correlating the outdoor and indoor air quality). Additionally, no record was found regarding the IC studies of hospitals in sub-Saharan Africa, in which, the IC impact on the occupant’s performance, productivity, and behaviour was assessed. Inferably, gaps still exist in the indoor climate of tropical hospitals. The current study highlights the need to improve the indoor climate considerations in the design, siting, awareness, regulations, and policy implementations concerning the hospitals in developing tropical countries. In conclusion, the study emphasises the need for more scientific studies on the indoor climate of tropical hospitals and highlights the relevant areas of the indoor climate studies in future works for considering the climate, environmental, socio-economic, infrastructural, and demographic peculiarities of the tropics for the betterment of hospital indoor climates in developing tropical countries.
Background
Critical care nurses should help in reducing noise to improve the well‐being of patients and health care providers.
Aim/s
To measure actual noise levels in intensive care units, identify nurses' perceived irritation levels of noise sources and examine the impact of noise on nurses' work performance and well‐being.
Study design
This cross‐sectional study was conducted from January to April 2023 at a teaching hospital's six intensive care units. It involved three phases: mapping locations for noise measurement, actual noise measurements in decibels and a cross‐sectional survey to identify nurses' perceptions and the adverse effects of noise. Actual noise was measured between patients' beds, nursing stations and beside 16 noise sources for 7 days 24 h a day. For nurse perceptions, the mean of perceived irritation levels by a Likert scale for each noise source was calculated to present perceived noise levels. Ranking of noise sources according to the actual measured and perceived irritation by nurses was done based on mean values. Curve estimation regression test was used to predict the relationship between actual and perceived noise and stepwise multiple linear regression identified factors associated with noise adverse effects.
Results
The mean noise level in the intensive care units was 65.55 dB. Nurses perceived mechanical ventilator alarms as the most irritating noise. However, the mean noise measurements showed that conversations among colleagues were the primary source of noise. There was no significant predictive relationship between the actual and perceived noise. Nurses reported feeling distressed, irritable, fatigued and less productive due to noise.
Conclusions
There was a discrepancy between actual and perceived noise levels by nurses. Perceived noise levels had more impact on nurses than actual noise.
Relevance to clinical practice
By incorporating both objective measurements and subjective perceptions into efforts aimed at reducing noise, health care providers can create quieter intensive care units.
This article aimed to evaluate the influence of organizational climate on the creativity at work of employees of a Pakistani public institution. Three scales evaluating the two sub-study dimensions were administered to a random sample of 103 National institutes' employees. The results show that the study subjects positively perceive the organizational climate. They also offered a high degree of creativity in performing their work tasks. Positive and significant regression coefficients were established between the organizational climate's characteristics and the employees' creative potential. Finally, four of the six organizational climate dimensions positively influenced creativity at work.
