Date of Award
Spring 1978
Document Type
Thesis - Restricted
Degree Name
Master of Science (MS)
Department
Nursing
Abstract
Twenty postoperative cardiovascular surgical patients were interviewed to identify ICU noises regarded as annoying and to determine the patients' perceptions of the identified annoying ICU noises. A structured interview guide, developed by the researcher, and tape-recorder were used to collect the data. Content analysis of the data resulted in the designation of noise categories, based on ten subjects' identification of seventeen sources of annoying ICU noises, and sub-categories, based on subjects' identification of the reasons the ICU noises were perceived as annoying. The three major categories of annoying ICU noise were Category I, Voices/Talking; Category II, Unit Patient Activity; and Category III, Equipment/Furnishings. The sub-categories for Category I were Inability to Respond, Loud Volume of Noise, and Interpretation of Content. The sub-categories for Category II were Identification with Unit Patient Experience, Interpretation of Unit Patient Behavior as Unacceptable, and Disturbance of Rest and Relaxation. The sub-categories for Category III were Interpretation of Cause as Avoidable, Constant Noise, Loud Volume of Noise, and Disturbance of Rest and Relaxation. A significant number of subject responses indicated noise was perceived as occurring during both day and night time periods; as being intermittent and moderately or very annoying; and as having awakened them. An incidental finding of the study was that subjects with post-high school education or professional occupations more frequently identified annoying ICU noises than subjects with lesser education or nonprofessional occupations.
Recommended Citation
Halfmann, Terese M., "Postoperative Cardiovascular Surgical Patients' Identification and Perceptions of Annoying Intensive Care Unit Noise" (1978). Master's Theses (1922-2009) Access restricted to Marquette Campus. 3365.
https://epublications.marquette.edu/theses/3365