Department of Anesthesiology, Surgical Sciences and Intensive Care Medicine, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden.
Acta Anaesthesiol Scand. 2013 Sep;57(8):1041-50. doi: 10.1111/aas.12138. Epub 2013 Jun 10.
Many intensive care unit (ICU) patients describe noise as stressful and precluding sleep. No previous study in the adult setting has investigated whether room size impacts sound levels or the frequency of disruptive sounds.
A-frequency S-time weighted equivalent continuous sound (LAS eq), A-frequency S-time weighted maximum sound level (LAS max) and decibel C peak sound pressure (LC peak) were measured during five 24-h periods in each of the following settings: three-bed room with nursing station (NS) alcove, single-bed room with NS alcove (1-BR with NSA) and single-bed room with bedside NS. Cumulative restorative time (CRT) (> 5 min with LAS max < 55 dB and LC peak < 75 dB) was calculated to describe calm periods. Two 8-h bedside observations were performed in each setting in order to note the frequency and sources of disruptive sounds.
Mean sound pressure levels (LAS eq) ranged between 52 and 58 dBA, being lowest during night shifts. There were no statistically significant differences between the room types in mean sound levels or in CRT. However, disruptive sounds were 40% less frequent in the 1-BR with NSA than in the other settings. Sixty-four percent of disruptive sounds were caused by monitor alarms and conversations not related to patient care.
Single-bed rooms do not guarantee lower sound levels per se but may imply less frequent disruptive sounds. Sixty-four percent of disruptive sounds were avoidable. Our findings warrant sound reducing strategies for ICU patients.
许多重症监护病房（ICU）的患者将噪音描述为有压力且会妨碍睡眠。之前在成人环境中没有研究过房间大小是否会影响噪音水平或产生噪音的频率。
在以下环境中，每个环境进行五个 24 小时测量：带护士站（NS）壁龛的三张床的房间、带 NS 壁龛的单床房间（1-BR with NSA）和带床边 NS 的单床房间。使用 A 频率 S 时间加权等效连续声级（LAS eq）、A 频率 S 时间加权最大声级（LAS max）和分贝 C 峰值声压（LC peak）进行测量。计算累积恢复时间（CRT）（LAS max < 55 dB 和 LC peak < 75 dB 且持续时间 > 5 分钟），以描述安静时间段。在每个环境中进行两次 8 小时的床边观察，以记录产生噪音的频率和来源。
平均声压级（LAS eq）在 52 至 58 dBA 之间，夜间最低。房间类型之间的平均声级或 CRT 没有统计学上的显著差异。然而，1-BR with NSA 中产生的噪音比其他环境中的噪音频率低 40%。64%的噪音是由监测器警报和与患者护理无关的对话引起的。
单床房间本身并不能保证降低噪音水平，但可能意味着产生噪音的频率较低。64%的噪音是可以避免的。我们的研究结果为 ICU 患者提供了降低噪音的策略。
