Omokhodion F O, Sridhar M K C
Department of Community Medicine, University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria.
Afr J Med Med Sci. 2003 Jun;32(2):139-42.
Noise levels were measured in 3 hospitals in Ibadan; a teaching hospital with approximately 800 beds and 2 general hospitals with about 200 beds each. A type 2 digital integrating sound level meter was used to measure noise levels in selected sites. Children's clinics and wards in the teaching hospital recorded the highest noise levels, 68-73db(A) and 55-77db(A) respectively, compared to similar facilities for adults. High noise levels 74-89dB(A) were also recorded in the operating rooms. Noise levels above 80db (A) were recorded in service areas such as the boiler room, and laundry and generator rooms in the teaching hospital. Corresponding sites in the general hospitals were less noisy as such services are provided at a minimum in these hospitals. Sleep interference is known to occur at noise levels recorded in this study. Staff conversation makes a large contribution to noise levels in patient care areas. The use of hospital equipment in patient care also contributes to the noise levels especially in operating room. This can be reduced if attention is drawn to this as an important part of patient care. Noise levels in service areas need to be monitored closely and workers in those areas may need hearing protection and regular audiometric assessment.
在伊巴丹的3家医院测量了噪音水平；一家拥有约800张床位的教学医院和两家各有200张床位的综合医院。使用2型数字积分声级计在选定地点测量噪音水平。与成人的类似设施相比，教学医院的儿童诊所和病房记录的噪音水平最高，分别为68 - 73分贝(A)和55 - 77分贝(A)。手术室也记录到74 - 89分贝(A)的高噪音水平。教学医院的锅炉房、洗衣房和发电机房等服务区域记录到80分贝(A)以上的噪音水平。综合医院的相应地点噪音较小，因为这些医院此类服务最少。已知在本研究记录的噪音水平下会发生睡眠干扰。工作人员的交谈对患者护理区域的噪音水平有很大影响。在患者护理中使用医院设备也会导致噪音水平升高，尤其是在手术室。如果将此作为患者护理的重要部分加以关注，这种情况可以得到缓解。服务区域的噪音水平需要密切监测，这些区域的工作人员可能需要听力保护和定期听力测试。
