TRAFFIC AND NOISE IN CHILDRENS WARDS

Objective: To measure pedestrian traffic volumes and noise levels in p aediatric open bay areas and discuss their impact on the care of sick children. Methods: Between August and October 1992, we recorded the nu mber 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 c hildren. Eight 24-hour periods (1200 to 1200) Friday to Saturday were assessed. Noise levels in decibels dB(A) were measured at 15-minute in tervals. Results: In an average 24-hour period, 5.5 (SD+/-1.3) patient s in the infants' ward and 9.5 (SD+/-0.6) patients in the children's w ard received 617 (SD+/-85) and 683 (SD+/-64) visits by 104 (SD+/-20) a nd 110 (SD+/-2) individuals respectively. The maximum numbers of visit s per hour were 57 (SD+/-14) and 54 (SD+/-8) visits between 1500 and 1 600 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 p eak 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 m easures.