Noise and Clinical Risk Management: Influence on Performance and Communication

In hospitals exposure to noise has been identified as potentially serious thread to health and safety of patients and staff. In operation theatres (OT) medical staff is exposed to high levels of noise during considerable portions of working time. A goal of our study was the careful measurement of the acoustic situation at typical points of exposure of the operation theatres concerned. These measurements were accomplished during one period by at least in each case 72 hours on three following weeks. For collection that subjectively noticed demand by noise during the shift was sketched its own questionnaire for the evaluation of the current work shift, in which the medical staff should judge possible acoustic factors and of the subjectively felt effects. Because of all measuring points the average values relatively close together in a range from 60 to 65dB(A), and also the mediane are in a narrow range from about 60 to 63.5dB(A). The noticed "noise at work" correlates highly with "the annoyance by noise" and the factors "communication" and/or "concentration by noise disturbed".