Perceived Noise Sources and Their Association with Nurses’ Health and Work Performance in Intensive Care Units: A Multicenter Study

TL;DR

This study explores how noise in intensive care units affects nurses' health and work performance, identifying key noise sources and their impacts.

Contribution

The study provides new insights into noise sources and their effects on nurses in ICUs, emphasizing the need for noise reduction strategies.

Findings

Monitor and ventilator alarms were identified as the most prominent sources of noise in ICUs.

Noise perception varied significantly based on the type of institution, ICU, and number of beds.

Noise exposure was significantly linked to adverse outcomes in subjective, emotional, physiological, and work performance domains.

Abstract

Background: Modern healthcare environments expose staff to various occupational stressors, with noise being among the most common and harmful stressors. In intensive care units (ICUs), both patients and nurses are frequently exposed to unsafe noise levels, which can adversely affect well-being, recovery, and work performance. Objective: This study aimed to identify sources of noise and their adverse effects from the perspective of ICU nurses, and to examine associations between noise perception, demographic and job-related variables, and outcomes across four domains: subjective, emotional, physiological, and work performance. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from February to September 2023 among 100 ICU nurses employed in three Croatian hospitals: Zagreb, Pula and Slavonski Brod. Data were collected using a validated three-part questionnaire and analyzed with descriptive and inferential statistics. Results: Nurses reported that monitor and ventilator alarms were the most prominent sources of internal noise. Noise perception within and outside ICUs differed significantly depending on the type of institution, ICU, and number of beds (p < 0.05). Significant relationships were found between noise exposure and outcomes across all four domains. Conclusions: Noise in ICUs poses a health risk to both patients and nurses, impairing well-being and work performance. Implementing effective noise reduction strategies should be prioritized in critical care settings.