Objective:Three flooring materials, terrazzo, rubber, and carpet tile, in patient unit corridors were compared for absorption of sound, comfort, light reflectance, employee perceptions and preferences, and patient satisfaction.Background:Environmental stressors, such as noise and ergonomic factors, effect healthcare workers and patients, contributing to increased fatigue, anxiety and stress, decreased productivity, and patient safety and satisfaction.Methods:A longitudinal comparative cohort study comparing three types of flooring assessed sound levels, healthcare worker responses, and patient Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCAHPS) ratings over 42 weeks. A linear mixed model analysis was conducted to determine significant differences between the means for participant responses and objective sound meter data during all three phases of the study.Results:A significant difference was found for sound levels between flooring type for equivalent continuous sound levels. Carpet ...

The Influence of Flooring on Environmental Stressors: A Study of Three Flooring Materials in a Hospital

OBJECTIVE:The objective of this study was to review, identify, and synthesize the literature on patient and healthcare worker safety related to flooring. The topic of flooring in the design of healthcare facilities is complex: healthcare associated infections, push/pull limitations, falls and fall injuries, and noise as a contributing factor to quality of care.BACKGROUND:Most hospitals have not been explicitly designed to enhance patient safety. Recommendations from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) include preventing patient falls, reducing infections, and preventing medication errors as the areas of emphasis of evidence-based design to improve patient safety and quality of care.METHODS:A review of the literature was conducted through search engines using a predefined list of keywords to identify studies about flooring and the safety of patients and healthcare workers. Inclusion criteria included peer-reviewed theoretical and empirical studies published in English from 1982 to 2012. F...

The role of flooring as a design element affecting patient and healthcare worker safety.

Noise pollution has a detrimental effect upon the learning and attainments of school children. Poor acoustical condition and high noise levels can cause many problems for the instructors and students. The acoustical indices and conditions of classrooms are important factors in the learning achievement of students. The purpose of this study was to find the relations of noise levels in indoor/outdoor and acoustical conditions of classrooms. Noise measurements and acoustical indices of 244 classrooms in 90 random samples consisting of primary, secondary and high schools in Tehran were considered. It was found that the average equivalent noise levels inside classrooms and corridors, yards and street sides in teaching condition were 72 dB(A), 65.8 dB(A), 64.1 dB(A) and 64.5 dB(A), respectively. Deference between mean indoor LAeq and background noise level in teaching conditions (above 32 dB) indicates that outdoor district noise sources could not significant affect indoor noise levels (P = 0.521). Comparison of means between equivalent noise level in classrooms of boy schools with girl schools showed a significant difference (P=0.0001). For the case of classrooms in primary, secondary and high school this Comparison had a significant deference (P=0.0001). Site selection, improving acoustic quality, controlling opening in doors and windows and educating noise reduction for studied schools were proposed.

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Study of school noise in the capital city of tehran-iran

Noise exposure has become one of the most important factors in determining the quality of life in indoor environments. This paper assesses and analyzes noise exposure levels at school and preschool classrooms with different indoor environments. The sound level [A-weighting equivalent steady sound level L
 Aeq (dBA)] was measured using a CEL-63× digital sound level meter. The noise level measurements were performed inside two preschools at three classrooms (an activity room, classroom KG1 and classroom KG2) and three schools at different classrooms, starting from grade 1 to grade 12. The logarithmic average noise levels (L
 Aeq avg) and the 8-h average noise exposure level (L
 EX, 8-h) were estimated for each classroom. Furthermore, health risk issues associated with the exposure to high noise levels were investigated using a questionnaire and an interview with more than 250 teachers at the preschools and the schools. Then, the results were analyzed using different statistical tools and were compared with the World Health Organization, Occupational Health and Safety and National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health standards. Also, the results were compared with those from different countries worldwide. The study results show that the 8-h average noise exposure level exceeded the allowable limits in some schools, which indicates that students and teachers can face a serious health effects from noise exposure. The comparisons show that the values of noise levels in Kuwait are higher than those in different countries. The maximum value of noise levels was found in secondary schools. The health problems found during the survey are potentially associated with issues related to hearing, voice, headache and the physiological function of teachers.

Assessment of noise exposure and associated health risk in school environment

The purpose of this multi-method study was to compare indoor environmental quality (IEQ) of patient rooms and the effects on safety, satisfaction, and quality of care. Objective analysis of IEQ included temperature, relative humidity (RH), CO2, and TVOCs. Healthcare staff and patients were asked to complete surveys. A behavior mapping study focused on length of time healthcare staff and visitors spent with patients in their rooms. All statistical tests were conducted with an α level of .05. Results indicated that IEQ was compromised by low RH and high temperatures; and bacterial counts in the air were higher in rooms with vinyl flooring. Patients were more satisfied with their experience; less likely to be assigned at risk for falling; and contributed to social support with visitors spending more time with patients in rooms with carpet tile. This comparative study indicates that the indoor environment contributes to quality of care, patient satisfaction, and safety in patient rooms.

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/joid.12100

A Material World: A Comparative Study of Flooring Material Influence on Patient Safety, Satisfaction, and Quality of Care

Noise was measured in classrooms of a stratified random sample of 20 schools in Jeddah. The mean "Average" Leq levels (60-89.2 dB[A]) highly exeed the recommended maximum levels (42-55 db[A]). Noise is higher in the classes adjacent to the streets than in those facing the school courts, particularly at the busy areas, and in the schools of the busy areas than of the semi-busy and of the residential areas. But, noise is lower in the pre-cast structure schools than in the concrete schools due to the better insulating characteristics of the former, and the higher noise induced by the window-type air conditioning units used in the latter. However, the students' recreational activities have equal noise impact in the primary, intermediate and secondary schools. It has been recommended to build schools in low-noise background locations, to reduce transmitted noise by proper city planning, traffic engineering and improved construction characteristics, and to properly select and maintain the air conditioning systems.

Study of noise pollution in Jeddah schools.

The present study was conducted on a sample of 6 hospitals in Jeddah to investigate the status of noise pollution there, and as related to community background noise, operational activities, hospital size and operational concepts (public vs private). Generally, the levels of noise in the clinics, patient rooms, offices, waiting areas and corridors significantly exceed the recommended standard. The noise levels in the machinery rooms significantly exceed the levels in offices, waiting areas and corridors which, in turn, significantly exceed the levels in clinics and patient rooms. Background community noise has a little impact on indoor noise due to the construction characteristics of the hospitals' buildings. However, "operational noise" from machinery and from the move of public (patients, attendants and employees) significantly contribute to indoor noise. Proper site location, city planning, traffic engineering, building construction, equipment selection, construction and equipment maintenance, and system management have been recommended for the abatement of hospital noise pollution.

M H Noweir

Papers

Study of noise pollution in Jeddah schools.

Study of noise pollution in Jeddah hospitals.