| ARTICLE |
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| Year : 2008 | Volume
: 10
| Issue : 41 | Page : 110--112 |
Noise levels in Greek hospitals
Venetia Tsara1, Evangelia Nena1, Evangelia Serasli1, Vasilis Vasileiadis2, Dimitris Matamis3, Pandora Christaki1
1 2nd Pulmonary Department, GH ‘G. PAPANIKOLAOU’, Thessaloniki, Greece
2 Architectural Technology Laboratory, Polytechnic School, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
3 Intensive Care Unit, GH ‘PAPAGEORGIOU’, Thessaloniki, Greece
Correspondence Address:
Venetia Tsara
2nd Chest Clinic “G.Papanikolaou General Hospital, Exohi Thessaloniki, GR 57010
Greece
 Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None  | Check |
DOI: 10.4103/1463-1741.44350
High noise levels have been recognized as a serious problem in hospital environments during both night- and daytime, and have been associated with a negative impact on patients' health status. The aim of this study was to measure and detect differences in noise levels between an ICU and a pulmonary ward in two general hospitals in Greece.
Methods: Noise measurements were recorded in one-hour intervals using the Cirrus CR: 245/R2 Environmental Noise Analyzer in a 30-bed pulmonary ward and in a 16-bed general ICU for seven consecutive days. Results: Noise levels detected in the ward were significantly lower than those detected in the ICU (52.6 ± 8.2 dB vs 59 ± 2.2 dB, P < 0.001). Noise levels decreased significantly during the course of the day in the ward, reaching the lowest limits during the night shift. This was not observed in the ICU and this pattern was constant during the periods monitored in both departments. Conclusion: Noise levels measured in the ward and in the ICU were high, significantly exceeding the highest permitted values for hospitals. The latter was more obviously recorded in the ICU.
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