Effect of Operating Room Noise on Occupational Burnout, Perceived Stress, and Life Satisfaction of Operating Room Nurses

Background: Operating room (OR) noise commonly originates from drills, suction devices, and intercom operations, which may interfere with the staff’s emotional regulation. This study investigates the influence of OR noise on occupational burnout, perceived stress, and life satisfaction of OR nurses. Methods: A cross-sectional analysis was conducted on 80 OR nurses from Wuxi Ninth People’s Hospital. The average OR noise level from January 2022 to December 2024 was 50.47 ± 14.52 dB. Nurses were categorized into a low-noise group ( n = 37, noise exposure level ≤50 dB) and a high-noise group ( n = 43, noise exposure level >50 dB) based on their average noise exposure levels. Occupational burnout level was assessed using the Maslach Burnout Inventory-Human Services Survey (MBI-HSS), perceived stress levels using the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), and life satisfaction using the Life Satisfaction Scale (SWLS). Results: Compared with those in the low-noise group, nurses in the high-noise group exhibited significantly higher MBI-HSS scores on the emotional exhaustion ( P = 0.019) and depersonalization ( P = 0.001) subscales, and significantly higher PSS scores on value strain ( P = 0.048), aspiration strain ( P = 0.014), deprivation strain ( P = 0.020), and coping strain ( P = 0.021) dimensions. The high-noise group reported lower SWLS scores compared with the low-noise group ( χ 2 = 16.681, P = 0.011), suggesting that noise can reduce nurses’ life satisfaction. Conclusion: OR noise was correlated with heightened occupational burnout, stress, and reduced life satisfaction among nurses. Future research could explore the potential benefits of reducing OR noise levels for improving nurses’ job satisfaction and indirectly enhancing the quality of patient care.