Coping and caregiving: Leveraging environmental design to moderate stress among healthcare workers in the emergency department setting
2023
HERD: Health Environments Research & Design Journal
Journal Article
Issue 3
Volume 16
Pages 261-277
Author(s): Bosch, S. J., Valipoor, S., Alakshendra, A., De Portu, G., Mohammadigorji, S., Rittenbacher, D., Black, K., Calienes, E.
Research demonstrates that healthcare work is demanding and emergency departments (EDs) are known to be particularly stressful. There is a lack of information about relationships between the built environment and the behaviors clinicians use to cope with work-related stress.
Added February 2023
The effect of sound in the dental office: Practices and recommendations for quality assurance: A narrative review
2022
Dentistry Journal
Journal Article
Issue 12
Volume 10
Pages 228
Author(s): Antoniadou, M., Tziovara, P., Antoniadou, C.
Research shows that the dental office environment exposes individuals to a high degree of sound during care. Sound can be perceived negatively, called noise, or can be considered positive, such as music therapy. The dental office can be an environment of high anxiety for patients.
Added December 2022
Impact of the soundscape on the physical health and the perception of senior adults in senior care facilities
2023
HERD: Health Environments Research & Design Journal
Journal Article
Issue 2
Volume 16
Pages 155-173
Author(s): Mu, J., Wu, Y., Wang, T.
Research shows that conditions of the indoor environment can affect human perception, satisfaction, and health. Senior adults tend to spend more time indoors such that the soundscape of the indoor environment (acoustics), may influence their health.
Added November 2022
Intensive care unit built environments: A comprehensive literature review (2005–2020)
2021
HERD: Health Environments Research & Design Journal
Journal Article
Issue 4
Volume 14
Pages 368-415
Author(s): Verderber, S., Gray, S., Suresh-Kumar, S., Kercz, D., Parshuram, C.
ICUs have been extensively studied regarding the role of the built environment in issues of patient safety and infection control, patient-staff outcomes, and the interventional role of the physical environment. The results of this comprehensive literature review (2005-2020) demonstrate an increase in design of single-bed ICUs, increase in the engagement of families in the ICU experience, acknowledgement of improving caregiver well-being, performance through designing staff amenities, increased attention to the therapeutic role of exposure to nature and lighting, and increased pandemic concerns related to containment of the COVID-19 virus.
Added May 2021
Comparing light and noise levels before and after a NICU change of design
2021
Journal of Perinatology
Journal Article
Volume 41
Pages 2235-2243
Author(s): Aita, M., Robins, S., Charbonneau, L., Doray-Demers, P., Feeley, N.
Previous studies have found that small changes in lighting and sound can create adverse health effects in preterm infants in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs). Many NICUs are shifting from open ward (OW) designs to single-family rooms (SFRs) and multi-bed pods, allowing for better control over lighting and sound levels while promoting familial involvement.
Added March 2021
Environmental noise in hospitals: A systematic review
2021
Environmental Science and Pollution Research
Journal Article
Issue 16
Volume 28
Pages 19629-19642
Author(s): de Lima Andrade, E., da Cunha e Silva, D. C., de Lima, E. A., de Oliveira, R. A., Zannin, P. H. T., Martins, A. C. G.
Noise in healthcare environments can aggravate patient health issues and impair the performance of healthcare professionals. The World Health Organization (WHO) has suggested that hospital sound levels should not exceed 35 decibels during the day and 40 decibels at night.
Added March 2021
Acoustic environment of comprehensive activity spaces in nursing homes: A case study in Harbin, China
2021
Applied Acoustics
Journal Article
Author(s): Mu, J., Kang, J., Wu, Y.
Research demonstrates that older adults are disproportionately vulnerable to contextual stimulus than their younger counterparts. Little research has evaluated, however, the harmful side effects that unsupportive acoustic environments, comprised of indoor- and outdoor-generated sounds, have on the most vulnerable elderly living in residential care settings.
Added March 2021
Characterizing the acoustic environment in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit
2020
Applied Acoustics
Journal Article
Issue 2
Volume 165
Pages 107301
Author(s): Hernández-Molina, R., Beira Jiménez, J. L., Rodriguez-Montaño, V., Zacarías, F. F., Bienvenido-Huertas, D., Lubián López, S., Cueto-Ancela, J. L.
Previous research shows that the acoustic environment of neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) plays a significant role in the development of neonates; however, there is a lack of research exploring the different types and impacts of specific noise sources. The results of this study affirm that equipment alarms profoundly influence NICU noise levels, while staff conversations, telephone use, and equipment movement also contribute.
Added March 2020
The effect of a non-talking rule on the sound level and perception of patients in an outpatient infusion center
2019
PLOS ONE
Journal Article
Issue 2
Volume 14
Pages 1-15
Author(s): Zijlstra, E., Hagedoorn, M., Krijnen, W. P., van der Schans, C. P., Mobach, M. P.
The World Health Organization has recommended that noise in patient care areas be limited to support healing. The authors of this study explore the effect of a behavioral intervention aimed at reducing conversational noise in the context of an outpatient infusion center and its result on patient perceptions.
Added March 2019
Acoustic environments of patient room in a typical geriatric ward
2018
Applied Acoustics
Journal Article
Author(s): Jerlehag, C., Lee, P. J., Park, S. H., Jones, T., Carroll, N.
Previous studies have thoroughly demonstrated the harmful effects of background noise within healthcare environments; one study found that high levels of background noise disrupted patient sleep cycles, while even higher levels of noise led to elevated heart rates among nurses.
Added January 2018
Sleep in intensive care unit: The role of environment
2017
Journal of Critical Care
Journal Article
Issue Supplement C
Volume 37
Pages 99-105
Author(s): Boyko, Y., Jennum, P., Nikolic, M., Holst, R., Oerding, H., Toft, P.
Several previous studies have linked abnormal, often-disrupted patient sleep patterns to impaired immune system function and various detriments to cognitive performance. Patients receiving treatment in an intensive care unit (ICU) are often subjected to several variables that can easily disrupt their sleep patterns, such as light, noise, frequent therapeutic procedures, and the patient’s illness or injury itself. Previous studies concerning ICU patient sleep quality largely involved qualitative data from patient-answered questionnaires and typically did not involve populations of severely ill ICU patients.
Added December 2017
Comparing average levels and peak occurrence of overnight sound in the medical intensive care unit on A-weighted and C-weighted decibel scales
2016
Journal of Critical Care
Journal Article
Issue Supplement C
Volume 36
Pages 1-7
Author(s): Knauert, M., Jeon, S., Murphy, T. E., Yaggi, H. K., Pisani, M. A., Redeker, N. S.
The loss of sleep, poor quality of sleep, and circadian misalignment experienced by patients in intensive care units (ICUs) are attributed to a multitude of factors – physiological, psychological, and environmental. ICUs are characterized by loud noises that disrupt a patient’s ability to sleep.
Added December 2017
Feasibility of noise reduction by a modification in ICU environment
2016
Physiological Measurement
Journal Article
Issue 7
Volume 37
Pages 1041-1055
Author(s): Luetz, A., Weiss, B., Penzel, T., Fietze, I., Glos, M, Wernecke, K. D., Bluemke, B., Dehn, A. M., Willemeit, T., Finke, A., Spies, C.
Noise can adversely affect sleep quality, which is important to the recovery of ICU patients. Two ICU rooms in a German hospital were re-designed with the objective of reducing noise. The authors conducted a study wherein they examined the impact of these modifications on sound pressure levels (SPL) in these rooms.
Added December 2017
A Comparison of Sound Levels in Open Plan Versus Pods in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit
2017
HERD: Health Environments Research & Design Journal
Journal Article
Issue 3
Volume 10
Pages 30-39
Author(s): Ramm, K., Mannix, T., Parry, Y., Gaffney, M. P.
Noise in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) can be a primary factor for stress for preterm infants, their family, and staff. High sound levels can potentially harm sensorineural systems of the infants. Literature shows that low background sounds are crucial to neurological development of preterm infants.
Added December 2017
Environment in pediatric wards: Light, sound, and temperature
2015
Sleep Medicine
Journal Article
Issue 9
Volume 16
Pages 1041-1048
Author(s): Oliveira, L., Gomes, C., Bacelar Nicolau, L., Ferreira, L., Ferreira, R.
Sleep is crucial to the well-being of humans, especially so for the recovery of those undergoing treatment or recuperating in hospitals. The authors cite studies that allude to the relevance quality of sleep has on health, neurodevelopment, generally, and to immune functioning and healing in patients.
Added November 2017
Influence of soundscape and interior design on anxiety and perceived tranquillity of patients in a healthcare setting
2016
Applied Acoustics
Journal Article
Issue Supplement C
Volume 104
Pages 135-141
Author(s): Watts, G., Khan, A., Pheasant, R.
The authors open their paper with a brief introduction on tranquil spaces and their relevance in a healthcare setting – improved hospital recovery rates, stress reduction, and more. According to the authors, tranquil spaces are spaces having a pleasant and calming effect – typically natural environments – specifically defined by low manmade sounds. The authors allude to the necessity of creating...
Added September 2017
Sound as a supportive design intervention for improving health care experience in the clinical ecosystem: A qualitative study
2017
Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice
Journal Article
Author(s): Iyendo, T. O.
As professionals work to make healthcare environments increasingly conducive to the physical and psychological well-being of patients and staff, one variable that garners significant attention by researchers and designers is the overall sound of a given space.
Added September 2017
Evaluation of a sound environment intervention in an ICU: A feasibility study
2018
Australian Critical Care
Journal Article
Issue 2
Volume 31
Pages 59–70
Author(s): Johansson, L., Lindahl, B., Knutsson, ., Ögren, M., Persson Waye, K., Ringdal, M.
Long-term studies measuring acoustics in ICU environments is lacking. This information is important to understand the effects of sound on seriously ill patients and those suffering from ICU delirium.
Added June 2017
Noise Reduction in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit: A Quality Improvement Initiative
2017
American Journal of Medical Quality
Journal Article
Issue 2
Volume 33
Pages 177-184
Author(s): Ahamed, M. F., Campbell, D., Horan, S., Rosen, O.
Elevated noise levels are regularly associated with adverse health effects among patients within healthcare environments. Infants are particularly vulnerable to elevated noise levels due to the immaturity of their auditory pathways, implying that neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) have an even greater responsibility for reducing noise levels.
Added June 2017
Subjective evaluation of speech privacy at consulting rooms in hospitals: Relationship between feeling evoked by overhearing speech and word intelligibility score
2017
Applied Acoustics
Journal Article
Author(s): Sato, H., Morimoto, M., Ohtani, S., Hoshino, Y., Sato, H.
Healthcare environments, particularly patient-doctor consulting rooms, are often filled with conversations of a sensitive nature that ideally should be kept private for the well-being of both patients and nearby individuals. Previous studies and relevant standards within healthcare environments have often used speech intelligibility as a subjective measure for assessing speech privacy.
Added June 2017
