Browsing by Author "Alduais,Safa Abdullatif"

Now showing 1 - 1 of 1

Restricted
Assessment of Ambient Noise Exposure Among Female Nurses in Surgical Cardiac Intensive Care Unit in A Government Hospital in Saudi Arabia
(Saudi Digital Library) Alduais,Safa Abdullatif
Background: Hospital noise levels worldwide are exceeding international guidelines with a negative effect on patients and staff. World Health Organization (WHO) regard noise as a leading stressor and recommends hospital noise levels during day and night. In many careers noise can affect the concentration, communication, leading to fatigue, along with permanent noise-induced hearing loss. Hospital’s intensive care units (ICUs) have an individual acoustic environment; alarms, occupant sounds, and machines, that contribute to the overall noise. Objective: The main objective is to measure noise levels in Saud Albabtain Cardiac Center (SBCC), cardiac surgical ICU (CSICU) at different locations to find out the prevalence of noise induced hearing loss among female nurses. Methods: The CSICU ambient noise was measured using a sound level meter and personal noise dosimeter during morning and night shift ,12 hours (12-h) duty, for 30-day period. An audiometry test and a questionnaire were used to test nursing response against noise levels. Results: The mean of 12-h average noise level at the station during night shift was 60.3±7.1 dB(A) and inside the rooms was 62.48±8.02 dB(A). The rooms during morning shift recorded 64.1±8.4 dB(A) and the station 68.8±8.2 dB(A) with significant differences between both shifts (p < 0.0001). The monitors recorded the highest source levels of 82.7±5.3 dB(A). The lowest significant source was the suction machine with an average of 67.1±12.5 dB(A). All sources exceeded WHO standards with a high significant risk to the nurses. Additionally, a significant strength of the correlation between decibel(dB) loss and Nurses experience were observed. Conclusion: the noise levels in the CSICU is higher than the WHO standards. CSICU nurses are exposed to noise levels that can affect there hearing capacity. further research needed for effective medical device alarm management.
5 0