Relationship between sensitivity and annoyance with noise parameters (PNC, SIL) in hospitals of Behbahan

A hospital as a health care institution providing treatment services can be heavily influenced by sources of noise. Noise pollution has negative impacts on patient comfort and staff welfare. This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between noise annoyance and sensitivity with noise parameters (PNC, SIL) in the hospitals of Behbahan.
This study investigated the level of noise pollution in all sections of Behbahan hospitals durring three working shifts. Noise measurement was done according to ISO9612 at designated stations. Equivalent sound pressure levels were measured at the measuring stations in 30 minute intervals. In the next step, PNC and SIL Indices were calculated. At the same time the validated questionnaire was completed for the evaluation of noise annoyance among 158 workers .Finally the relationship between the noise level, noise annoyance, noise Sensitivity, and PNC-SIL Indices.
The results showed that there was a significant relationship between noise sensitivity and noise annoyance (P˂0.001). Also statistical tests showed that there was a significant relationship between noise sensitivity, noise annoyance with equivalent sound level (P= 0.05). Moreover, SIL-PNC had a significant relationship with noise annoyance and sensitivity.
Based on the results, the noise level in some hospitals was higher than the national standard in Iran. PNC&SIL rating indicated that communication can be difficult for individuals; therefore, this problem causes raising the voice and consequently noise annoyance on of hospital staff.