THE EFFECT OF NOISE ON HEART RATE AND ANNOYANCE IN POSTOPERATIVE PATIENTS IN INTENSIVE CARE.
Contributors: University of Texas at Austin.
Published: 1986
Number of pages: 328
Subjects: Health Sciences, Nursing.
Description: The study used a quasi-experimental, time-samples design to study the relationship between sound pressure level and heart rate. The study was descriptive of other variables affecting heart rate, reported annoyance to ICU noise, and intervening variables of noise sensitivity and hearing acuity. A convenience sample of 28 hospitalized adults having elective surgery and postoperative admission to a 14-bed surgical ICU were obtained. Seventeen research questions were asked to describe the relationship between noise and heart rate and annoyance.

Decibel and heart rate were measured simultaneously with a sound level meter and monitor for a 6-hour period the evening of surgery. Three components of reported annoyance and noise sensitivity were measured with questionnaires. Hearing level was measured with a pure tone audiometer.

Data were analyzed using descriptive and non-parametric inferential statistics. Noise levels in patients' rooms ranged from 60-64 dBA and were in excess of levels recommended for rest and sleep. A high ambient level was created by the use of oxygen equipment which masked outside sounds. Sixty-eight percent of subjects showed a significant, p = .10, increase in heart rate with an increase in decibel from a previous noise level. Seventy-eight percent of subjects experiencing impulse noise had an increase in heart rate during the impulse, indicating a startle effect. Heart rate during baseline ambient conditions was highly variable within subjects, indicating individual differences in response. Mean heart rate was greatest during talking inside the room with the Friedman Test significant at p < .000. Heart rate was second highest during non-talking noise. The majority of subjects reported little annoyance to ICU noise, except when it interfered with sleep. Noise sensitivity and mild hearing loss were not significant factors in annoyance to ICU noise.

Implications from the study are that talking inside an ICU room produces arousal in some patients. The arousal may be desirable or undesirable if it interferes with sleep. It is recommended that future research investigate habituation to noise in ICU and whether individual differences among patients or noise characteristics affect habituation of heart rate. Further research is needed to identify factors affecting heart rate response of patients in the immediate postoperative period. (Abstract shortened with permission of author.).
Notes: Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 48-03, Section: B, page: 0701.

Thesis (PH.D.)--THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN, 1986.

School code: 0227.