Comparative analysis of noise pollution in hospital environment: A scoping review

This paper presents a significant contribution through a scoping review of noise sources, their effects on human health, and methods for reducing noise in hospital environments. The review focuses on studies published between 2016 and 2024 that address noise sources in hospitals, their impact on patients and healthcare personnel, and strategies for noise reduction. The analysis was conducted using the MAXQDA commercial software (version 22.4.1) and utilized 454 codes. The findings revealed that conversations among healthcare staff, equipment noise, and clinical activities are the most prevalent sources of noise in hospitals. These are followed by noises from patients, alarms, and visitors. This ranking can help hospital managers prioritize resources when formulating noise reduction strategies. According to the reviewed articles, noise is closely linked to issues such as distraction, increased heart rate (tachycardia), sleep disorders, and reduced employee efficiency. The most frequently recommended approaches for managing noise include personnel training and raising awareness among staff. The results of this study emphasize that hospital noise reduction strategies should be comprehensive, incorporating both technical solutions—such as acoustic treatments and equipment noise reduction—and behavioral solutions, which include staff training and noise condition assessments.