Perceived Noise Sources and Their Association with Nurses’ Health and Work Performance in Intensive Care Units: A Multicenter Study

BACKGROUND: Modern healthcare environments expose staff to various occupational stressors, with noise being among the most common and harmful stressors. In intensive care units (ICUs), both patients and nurses are frequently exposed to unsafe noise levels, which can adversely affect well-being, recovery, and work performance. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to identify sources of noise and their adverse effects from the perspective of ICU nurses, and to examine associations between noise perception, demographic and job-related variables, and outcomes across four domains: subjective, emotional, physiological, and work performance. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted from February to September 2023 among 100 ICU nurses employed in three Croatian hospitals: Zagreb, Pula and Slavonski Brod. Data were collected using a validated three-part questionnaire and analyzed with descriptive and inferential statistics. RESULTS: < 0.05). Significant relationships were found between noise exposure and outcomes across all four domains. CONCLUSIONS: Noise in ICUs poses a health risk to both patients and nurses, impairing well-being and work performance. Implementing effective noise reduction strategies should be prioritized in critical care settings.