Abstract
Purpose
The research was conducted to evaluate the noise levels and the effect of noise on
the workload and stress levels of the operating room (OR) staff of a public hospital.
Design
Descriptive and cross-sectional study.
Methods
The data were obtained by measuring ambient noise during 403 orthopaedic, urological,
and general surgeries on weekdays between July and October 2019. We measured the noise
by dividing the surgery into three phases. These phases are as follows: from the entry
of the patient, induction of anesthesia, and preparation of the surgical area until
the start of the procedure (Phase I), from the incision until the completion of closure
and dressing application (Phase II), from the completion of closure and dressing application
until the exit of the patient (Phase III). Furthermore, the workload and stress levels
of 45 OR staff who work in the general surgery, orthopaedics, and urology ORs were
measured. Data were collected using a CA 834 noise measurement device, State-Trait
Anxiety Inventory (STAI Form TX-I), the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
(NASA) Task Load Index Workload Scale, and Information form related to surgery and
ORs.
Findings
The noise in the OR was higher than 35 dB, A-weighted [dB(A)], the limit proposed
by the World Health Organization for hospitals. Phase I average noise level was 63.00 ± 3.50,
Phase II average noise level was 62.94 ± 3.75, and Phase III average noise level was
63.67 ± 2.81. The mean anxiety score was 34.50 ± 6.09. The total workload level was
found to be 56.91 ± 15.67. Anxiety scores and workload scores had positive weak and
moderate correlations with noise levels (P < .01).
Conclusions
The noise in the OR was high, and anxiety scores and workload scores correlated positively
with noise levels.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: October 16, 2020
Footnotes
Conflict of interest: None to report.
This article was developed from the Ayşen Arabacı's master thesis directed by Ebru Önler.
Identification
Copyright
© 2020 American Society of PeriAnesthesia Nurses. Published by Elsevier, Inc. All rights reserved.
