Citation

Couper RT, Hendy K, Lloyd N, Gray N, Williams S, Bates DJ. Med. J. Aust. 1994; 160(6): 338-341.

Affiliation

University of Adelaide Department of Paediatrics, Adelaide Children's Hospital.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1994, Australian Medical Association, Publisher Australasian Medical Publishing)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

8133817

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To measure pedestrian traffic volumes and noise levels in paediatric open bay areas and discuss their impact on the care of sick children. METHODS: Between August and October 1992, we recorded the number and duration of entrances to two open bay areas comprising eight and ten beds respectively in a ward for infants and a ward for older children. Eight 24-hour periods (1200 to 1200) Friday to Saturday were assessed. Noise levels in decibels dB(A) were measured at 15-minute intervals. RESULTS: In an average 24-hour period, 5.5 (SD +/- 1.3) patients in the infants' ward and 9.5 (SD +/- 0.6) patients in the children's ward received 617 (SD +/- 85) and 683 (SD +/- 64) visits by 104 (SD +/- 20) and 110 (SD +/- 2) individuals respectively. The maximum numbers of visits per hour were 57 (SD +/- 14) and 54 (SD +/- 8) visits between 1500 and 1600 hours on Friday for each ward. Visits tended to be brief; 225 (SD +/- 23) and 217 (SD +/- 34) visits were of less than one minute's duration. The maximum noise levels of 57.3 dB(A) (SD +/- 6.3) and 64.6 dB(A) (SD +/- 3.5) occurred at 1000 Saturday and 1900 Friday and coincided with peak traffic volumes. CONCLUSIONS: Open bay areas generate high traffic volumes and coincident noise. Consideration should be given to either modifying or abolishing open bay areas and to general noise control measures.

Language: en