Can digital noise display devices reduce noise levels in hospital wards? A qualitative literature review

Abstract

Hospital wards are noisy environments, and this has been recognised as a global healthcare challenge. Excessive noise can reduce staff performance and disrupt patients' sleep, delaying their recovery and leading to a prolonged stay. Research has suggested that digital noise display devices can alert ward staff and prompt them to reduce noise levels, but the literature on this topic varies. This systematic review summarises the evidence regarding the use of digital noise display devices as the primary intervention to reduce noise levels in hospital wards. The authors searched CINAHL, MEDLINE and PubMed databases, as well as manually harvesting through the references. A total of 1110 articles were identified, of which eight were eligible for inclusion. Thematic analysis was used to synthesise the findings. The evidence demonstrated that digital noise display interventions could reduce noise levels in wards by 2–3 decibels and raise staff awareness of noise. However, there was a lack of evidence that this intervention changed staff behaviour regarding noise levels. Further research is required to explore the experiences of patients and staff to understand if and how these devices changed behaviour towards noise.