Night Time Noise Reduction in Ward Settings


2014 NHS inpatient survey 39% of respondents stating that they were 'bothered by noise at night from other patients' and 21% by hospital staff


A team at Huddersfield University and Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust have approached the TK2A Theme to work on implementing the emergent findings of their work exploring Night Time Noise Reduction in Ward Settings.  We are very excited to partner with this team to bring  our expertise around creative practice in Knowledge Mobilisation and service improvement work to this important and universal challenge.


This study aims to:

  • To explore the characteristics of night-time noise levels and in-patients’ self reported sleep patterns in a Medical Admissions Unit
  • Identify effective noise reduction interventions and integrate evidence into educational material for nurses
  • Develop a community of practice to raise awareness about the importance of sleep promotion and inform service improvement
This will be done in three phases:
  1. Noise reduction in adult ward settings: a rapid evidence review of effective interventions (Months 1-6) 
  2. Noise levels and in-patient reports of sleep quality in MAU: a quantitative study (Months 4-12)
  3. Knowledge to Action: A Knowledge Mobilisation Strategy (Months 6-12)
The team would like to acknowledge the funding of the General Nursing Council for England and Wales Trust for funding the first two phases of the work.  We are exploring various match funding models to take Phase 3 forward.


For further information please contact:

Felicity Astin PhD FESC FHEA

Professor of Nursing & Applied Health Research 

University of Huddersfield/Calderdale & Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust

 

+44 (0) 1484 472893

f.astin@hud.ac.uk

@areyouinformed

www.hud.ac.uk

Room  HW3-27

Harold Wilson Building

Human & Health Sciences 
University of Huddersfield | Queensgate | Huddersfield | HD1 3DH


Related references:

“Improving Patients’ Sleep: Reducing Light and Noise Levels on Wards at Night.” 2016. JOUR. Nursing Management 22 (9). RCN Publishing Ltd: 18–23. doi:10.7748/nm.22.9.18.s27.

“The Hospital Noise Project: Lessons on Addressing Noise from 241 U.S. Hospitals.” 2012. Webinar Series. www.theberylinstitute.org.

Richardson, Annette, Abigail Thompson, Elaine Coghill, Iain Chambers, and Chris Turnock. 2009. “Development and Implementation of a Noise Reduction Intervention Programme: A Pre- and Postaudit of Three Hospital Wards.” Journal of Clinical Nursing 18 (23): 3316–24. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2702.2009.02897.x.

Xie, Hui, Jian Kang, Gary H Mills, J Kang, R Snyder-Halpern, KA Thomas, PA Martin, et al. 2009. “Clinical Review: The Impact of Noise on Patients’ Sleep and the Effectiveness of Noise Reduction Strategies in Intensive Care Units.” Critical Care 13 (2). BioMed Central: 208. doi:10.1186/cc7154.