Amanda Humann SN, Rachel Olson SN, Jori Nies SN, Andrea Berglund, SN

EBP Abstract

Appraised by:

Amanda Humann SN, Rachel Olson SN, Jori Nies SN, Andrea Berglund, SN

North Dakota State University Nursing at Sanford Health Bismarck, North Dakota

Clinical Question:

Does bundling noise reduction techniques increase patient satisfaction and promote sleep?

Articles:

Connor, A. & Ortiz, E. (2009). Staff solutions for noise reduction in the workplace. The Permanente Journal, 13(4). 23-27.

Glenn, G., Collins, C., Osborne, S., Henderson, A., & Eastwood, M. (2009). Creating a therapeutic environment: A non-randomized controlled trial of a quiet time intervention for patients in acute care. International Journal of Nursing Studies, 46, 778-786. doi: 10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2008.12.009

Patel, Baldwin, J., Bunting, P., & Laha, S. (2014). The effect of a multicomponent multidisciplinary bundle of interventions on sleep and delirium in medical and surgical intensive care patients. Anaesthesia, 69, 540-549.

Richardson, A., Thompson, A., Coghill, E., Chambers, I., & Turnock, C. (2009). Development and implementation of a noise reduction intervention program: a pre- and post-audit of three hospital wards. Journal of Clinical Nursing, 18, 3316-332410.1111/j.13652702.2009.02897.x.Retrieved March 3, 2015, from http://web.a.ebscohost.com.ezproxy.lib.ndsu.nodak.edu/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?sid=846b4540-98d2-4f46-9dda-972dd9f34a9e@sessionmgr4002&vid=3&hid=4206

Synthesis of Conclusions:

Fours studies were reviewed, two quasi-experimental studies, one performance improvement project, and one cohort study. A quasi experiment by Gardner, Collins, Osborne, Henderson, and Eastwood (2009) compared intervention and survey results from orthopedic wards of an experimental group (Hospital A) and a control group (Hospital B). Conner and Oritz (2009) performed a high quality performance improvement project that examined staff education on noise reduction and noise measurements using sound decibel (dB) monitors. Richardson et al. performed a, quasi-experimental study on the effect of staff education for noise reduction on sound decibel level in three different hospital wards. A cohort study by ( Patel, Baldwin, Bunting, & Laha, 2014) examined how reduced hospital noise at night increases a patient's REM and non-REM sleep and reduces delirium. The four articles reviewed showed consistency in that through staff education and implementation of noise reduction strategies, noise reduction occurred. Similarity in the articles included the noise reduction techniques and staff education which all resulted in lower noise levels. Differences included the time of day and the type of units the experiments were performed on. Some articles measured sound all day while other focused on nighttime specifically. The analyses performed on different units show how staff education can reduce noise in all parts of the hospital.

Bottom Line:

The research and literature shows that a bundle of interventions to reduce noise at night increased patients’ satisfaction along with sleep. The topic was studied by comparing interventions used today to reduce noise and the interventions suggested in the research. The research found that the interventions used to reduce noise decreased the amount of patient complaints of sleep being interrupted, increased patient satisfaction, reduced length of hospital stay, and increased healing. Implementing these interventions showed that reducing noise can be beneficial to all, and it is suggested to have a policy that implements these interventions into plan of care and hospital regulations.

Implications:

It is recommended that nurses be educated on how to reduce hospital noise at night. Nurses must be taught the effects of noise level on sleep and the healing process. Education should include current noise levels, noise causes, noise regulations, patient impact of high noise, and noise reduction methods. Interventions to be implemented should include low-lit areas, limited noise, limited patient interactions, limited visitors, and increased staff education. It is recommended that a policy addressing staff education, interventions to decrease noise, and visitor policies should be implemented.