Noise levels and effects on users of the waiting rooms and physical therapy areas of a tertiary care institution for people with disabilities

Background: Noise is an inarticulate, unpleasant and polluting sound that produces negative physiological and psychosomatic effects in humans. The standards for its control have been initially established by the World Health Organization and the United States Environmental Protection Agency. Noise has been measured mainly in open areas, and also in closed hospital areas such as operating rooms, intensive care units and bedrooms, revealing higher than permissible levels. Few studies have focused on waiting rooms and reception areas, but none on group physical therapy rooms. Objective: To measure noise in waiting rooms and group physical therapy and its effects on users of a tertiary hospital. Material and methods: Cross-sectional, observational, descriptive study. Noise was measured in nine waiting rooms and seven physical therapy rooms on three occasions. The attendants of each room voluntarily answered a questionnaire on noise perception and its effects. Results: 44% of the measured areas exceeded the permissible noise level of 65 dBA. The participant profile is compatible with that described for primary caregivers. The source of the noise was conversations, and the most frequent effects were restlessness, anxiety, and headache. Conclusions: The results obtained are similar to those reported by other authors. The noisiest rooms have greater communication with the hallways, regardless of the number of subjects gathered. We agree on the source of the noise and its effects on users.