Impact of sound levels on physiological and consciousness state of cardiovascular patients
Autor
Morales-Cané, Ignacio
Moral-Arroyo, Juan Antonio
Debbia, Fabio
Guler, Ipek
Llamas-Recio, Francisca
Jiménez-Pastor, José M.
López-Carrasco, Juan de la Cruz
Acuña-Castroviejo, Darío
Rodríguez Borrego, M.A.
López Soto, Pablo Jesús
Editor
WileyFecha
2022Materia
Critically ill patientsEnvironment
Intensive care unit
Noise
Safety culture
METS:
Mostrar el registro METSPREMIS:
Mostrar el registro PREMISMetadatos
Mostrar el registro completo del ítemResumen
Background:Patients treated in intensive care units (ICUs) experience life-threatening medical conditions but some external factors in ICUs do not help or evenadversely affect and complicate their evolution. Among others, such factors includenoise pollution due to alarms and medical clinical equipment, as well as the activitiesof the health care personnel themselves.Aim:This study aimed to evaluate the influence of elevated sound levels on physio-logical variables and the consciousness state of patients treated in a cardiovasculararea in an ICU.Design:A longitudinal study with several observations was carried out during1 month in the cardiovascular area of an ICU of a third-level hospital in southernSpain.Methods:Sound levels were monitored in different work shifts and patients' physio-logical data and consciousness status were recorded. Generalized additive mixedmodels (GAMMs) were developed to detect the variability of the sound levelstogether with the vital parameters of the patients in the ICU.Results:Thirty-eight patients were included. The mean sound level was 54.09 dBA.The GAMM sound levels analysis showed a significant increase in sound levels from4:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. (1.83 dBA;P< .001) and 8:00 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. (3.06 dBA;P< .001). An increase in heart rate (3.66 bpm;P< .001), respiratory rate (2.62 rpm;P< .001) and the Glasgow Coma Scale (0.50 units;P=.002) was detected during the4:30 p.m.–8:30 p.m. period.
Conclusions:Elevated sound levels in cardiovascular ICUs seem to influence posi-tively the physiological and consciousness status of patients. Given the importanceof the findings for patient safety, future intervention studies are recommended.Relevance to Clinical Practice:The finding of this study could translate into struc-tural changes in ICU facilities, as well as the development of clinical practice guide-lines that influence the behaviour of health care professionals