Environmental noise exposure and natural sound intervention in hospital interventional therapy rooms: Effects on patient perception, physiological and psychological outcomes

Abstract

High noise levels in interventional therapy rooms present a critical environmental health challenge, potentially causing adverse physiological and psychological effects in patients. While environmental noise control measures are crucial, natural soundscape interventions offer a promising environmental management approach. In this comparative randomized controlled trial, 156 patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in the waiting area (WA) and operating room (OR) participated. Participants' subjective perceptions, psychological indicators, and physiological indicators were investigated and monitored. The research found that natural sounds could mask other noises in the therapy room, significantly reducing patients' noise annoyance and improving the acoustic environment's comfort. Natural sound interventions significantly alleviated both short-term and overall anxiety in OR patients, while achieving short-term relief in WA. After the intervention, WA patients exhibited considerably lower heart rates (HR), systolic blood pressure (SBP), and diastolic blood pressure (DBP), with natural sound intervention (NI) providing a greater recovery benefit than quiet condition intervention (QI). Moreover, with natural sound intervention, HR and SBP decreased, the decline in peripheral capillary oxygen saturation (SpO₂) was alleviated, and activation of the Renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) was inhibited. Additionally, HR, SpO₂, and blood pressure (BP) fluctuations in OR patients were smaller than in noisy environments. This study provides evidence-based support for natural sound as an environmental management strategy to optimize the acoustic environment in interventional therapy rooms and improve patient outcomes.