Evaluation the factors that noise in intensive care unit

Evaluation the Factors That Cause Noise in Intensive Care UnitThis study was conducted to evaluate the factors that cause noise in an intensive care unit.The research was carried out between 10.05.2012-10.07.2012 in the Cardiovascular Surgery Intensive Care Unit of a private hospital in Maslak, Istanbul. It was performed with 50 patients who were over 18 years old and had open heart surgeries in the hospital. The patients were chosen for the research using a random sampling method. Data were collected through face to face interviews via ?Determination of Noise Causing Factors in the Intensive Care Unit-Data Collection Forms? and through observation methods. The noise intensity was measured by a device that detects sound waves between 30-130 dB.Eighty six percent of the patients expressed that the intensive care unit was noisy. The daily average noise intensity was measured in 67,42 dB, 64,76 dB at nights and 70,08 dB at daytime. It was stated that the most of the complaints about the noise was related to monitor alarms. The noise intensity due to the monitor alarms was measured in 101,7 dB. Other causes of noise were listed as door and telephone rings, IV pumping noises and noise of the staff, respectively. It was observed that the noise caused changes on sleep habits of the patients.As a result, in this study it was found that the noise consistently existed in the intensive care unit, the monitor alarms were the main noise source and the noise disrupted the sleep patterns of the patients. In order to overcome these problems, technologies should be developed that enable monitor alarms can be only heard by related staff, deck telephones should only be heard by health professionals via activating vibration systems and unnecessary communications should be avoided.Key Words: Intensive care enviroment, noise, critical care, technology, sleep.