MacKrill, J., Payne, S. R., Jennings, P. A. and Cain, R. (2011) Exploring a cardio-thoracic hospital ward soundscape in relation to restoration. In: 40th International Congress and Exposition on Noise Control Engineering 2011, INTER-NOISE 2011, Osaka, 4-7 Sept 2011. Published in: 40th International Congress and Exposition on Noise Control Engineering 2011, INTER-NOISE 2011, Vol.4 pp. 3736-3742.

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Abstract

Hospitals can provide stressful experiences for both patients and medical staff. A well-designed hospital soundscape should avoid adding to negative emotional states (e.g. stress), limit any detrimental cognitive effects (e.g. attentional fatigue), and enable restoration. Experiences of the cardio-thoracic ward soundscape, in a UK public University hospital, were explored via semi-structured interviews with 11 patients and 16 nurses. Thematic coding analysis resulted in 11 key themes including notions of restoration and emotional responses. The themes were used to develop a conceptual model to describe the processes involved in the perception and evaluation of the soundscape. The language used by patients and nurses indicated the emotional response to the soundscape was at times stressful and at others potentially restorative. Coping methods of accepting and habituating to individual sounds were noted. The impact of the patients' and nurses' ability to maintain these coping strategies are discussed in relation to restoration and the temporal variation of the soundscape. A period of 'quiet time' was in operation at the hospital and the importance of this was noted through various responses relating to emotion and restoration. The results suggest the soundscape has potentially, a beneficial role in facilitating restoration thus helping patients' recovery and medical staff's ability to remain productive. This research supports the need to study hospital soundscapes further so that design implications can be considered for the production of a more restorative environment, possibly through the masking/removal of unwanted sounds and optimising positive sounds.

Item Type:	Conference Item (Paper)
Divisions:	Faculty of Science > WMG (Formerly the Warwick Manufacturing Group)
Journal or Publication Title:	40th International Congress and Exposition on Noise Control Engineering 2011, INTER-NOISE 2011
ISBN:	9781618392800
Date:	2011
Volume:	Vol.4
Page Range:	pp. 3736-3742
Status:	Peer Reviewed
Publication Status:	Published
Access rights to Published version:	Restricted or Subscription Access
Conference Paper Type:	Paper
Title of Event:	40th International Congress and Exposition on Noise Control Engineering 2011, INTER-NOISE 2011
Type of Event:	Conference
Location of Event:	Osaka
Date(s) of Event:	4-7 Sept 2011
URI:	http://wrap.warwick.ac.uk/id/eprint/52163

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