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Understanding and improving the perception of a hospital ward soundscape
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MacKrill, James B. (2013) Understanding and improving the perception of a hospital ward soundscape. PhD thesis, University of Warwick.
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Official URL: http://webcat.warwick.ac.uk/record=b2685586~S1
Abstract
The various aspects of hospital environments have been shown to affect
individuals psychologically and physiologically. One aspect of this, sound, has been
thoroughly documented through acoustic measurements along with the potential
adverse effects high sound level has on patients and nurses. Yet within hospitals, the
character of the sound – the soundscape or the auditory landscape – is often
overlooked in favour of this focus on sound level. This project has led to an
improved understanding of the character and perception of hospital sounds using a
triangulation of methods, with the intention of contributing to knowledge on how to
improving the soundscape.
Firstly, an interview study with patients and nurses within a cardiothoracic
(CT) ward at a UK hospital was carried out to understand perceptions of, and
thoughts towards, the soundscape. This led to the development of a conceptual
model linking the relationships between various concepts and components of
perception thereby mapping the perception of the soundscape and the feelings it
evoked. A key aspect to perception – the notion of coping through habituating to
sounds, became the foundation for subsequent work testing positive interventions.
These complex feelings elicited by the soundscape were then reduced into a twodimensional
perceptual space, extracted from a listening evaluation using Principal
Component Analysis. Labelled ‘Relaxation’ and ‘Interest & Understanding’, these
axies can represent the emotional-cognitive response stimulated by the CT ward
sounds.
Finally, potentially positive interventions were assessed using listening
evaluations with participants rating additional natural and steady state sounds, along
with a cognitive intervention of sound source information (SSI). It was found that
the interventions resulted in a small (ƞ2=0.05) but significant effect (p=.001) on the
‘Relaxation’ response. Natural sounds were most effective, with a less conclusive
but still significant effect present for steady state sounds and SSI. The ‘Interest &
Understanding’ dimension was non-significantly affected. Exploring this further, a
between groups in-situ study assessed the benefit of SSI. The first group received
SSI, the second received none. It was found that SSI had a small to medium
significant effect (r=0.26-0.31, p=<.05) on ‘Interest & Understanding’ but not
‘Relaxation’.
The project successfully developed a new way of assessing the perception of
hospital sounds in a perceptual space. Using this approach it was concluded that
natural sounds (here, the sounds of birdsong and a stream) provide a consistent way
to improve the soundscape. However, a new approach of using SSI was successfully
tested and was supported by a theoretical underpinning of cognitive reappraisal.
Importantly, this offers an easier way to manipulate perception through potentially a
reappraisal of the soundscape. Therefore, it was also concluded from the new
findings and new theory that SSI could be used to create a positive response from
people within hospital ward environments.
Item Type: | Thesis (PhD) | ||||
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Subjects: | B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BF Psychology T Technology > TA Engineering (General). Civil engineering (General) |
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Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH): | Psychoacoustics, Sound, Hospital wards | ||||
Official Date: | March 2013 | ||||
Dates: |
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Institution: | University of Warwick | ||||
Theses Department: | Warwick Manufacturing Group | ||||
Thesis Type: | PhD | ||||
Publication Status: | Unpublished | ||||
Supervisor(s)/Advisor: | Jennings, Paul | ||||
Extent: | xvii, 302 leaves : illustrations, charts. | ||||
Language: | eng |
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