Objective: To investigate the impact of medical device alarm noise on psychological distress in hospitalised patients within respiratory and critical care medicine departments, and to evaluate the effectiveness of silent care nursing. Methods: This retrospective study was conducted in Affiliated Hospital of Jiangnan University from January 2022 to December 2023. A total of 134 patients were divided into a standard care group ( n = 63) and a silent care group ( n = 71) based on the nursing methods received. Noise levels were measured using calibrated digital sound level meters. Psychological distress was assessed using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). Physiological stress markers, including heart rate (HR) and oxygen saturation (SPO 2 ), were measured. Secondary outcomes included sleep quality assessed using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and delirium rates using the Confusion Assessment Method for the ICU. Results: The silent care group demonstrated significantly lower noise levels across all measured parameters compared with the standard care group ( P < 0.05). HADS scores were significantly lower in the silent care group than in the standard care group after nursing ( P < 0.05), and significant within-group reductions were observed only in the silent care group ( P < 0.05). HR was significantly lower, and SPO 2 was significantly higher in the silent care group compared with the standard care group after nursing ( P < 0.05), with significant within-group changes observed only in the silent care group ( P < 0.05). In addition, PSQI scores and delirium incidence were significantly lower in the silent care group ( P < 0.05). Conclusion: These findings suggest that medical device alarm noise may contribute to psychological distress in critically ill patients. Silent care nursing was associated with lower noise levels, reduced psychological distress and better physiological stress markers.
Zhou et al. (Sun,) studied this question.