Investigation of Noise Pollution in One of the Hospitals Covered in Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences

Abstract

Noise pollution in different hospitals parts, as the most common source of environmental stress, has destructive psychological and physiological effects on patients. Therefore, this study was conducted to investigate the extent of noise pollution in one of the hospitals under the auspices of the Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences. this study was descriptive-analytical and cross-sectional with a sound the equivalent of 15 min with minimum and maximum sound levels in 2019 in different wards of the Hospital and its surroundings in three shifts in the morning, afternoon, a night using The TES-1351B sound meter was performed. Data were also analyzed using SPSS22 using statistical tests. The maximum mean sound level interval in the morning of the average and closed days reported was 67.85 in the emergency department and 62.48 dB in the hospital grounds, respectively. This amount measured in the afternoon of the average days related to the specialized clinic section of the hospital, 69.34 decibels, and on holidays, it was estimated at 72.46 decibels in the hospital compound, and the Leq rate in the night shift measured for average and closed days, respectively. The emergency room was 59.95 decibels, and the hospital grounds were 78.64 decibels. The results showed that there was a significant difference between the values of sound level measurement on average days and holidays and measurement times (morning, evening, and night) and diagnostic, administrative, and therapeutic sections(P<0.05). In conclusion, it was found that hospitals had a high level of noise pollution and in most cases, the values were higher than the standards of the WHO.