Abstract
PURPOSE: Noise levels may have an impact on the level of fear and anxiety in hospitalized children, which, in turn, may affect the effectiveness of treatment. This retrospective study aimed to investigate the impact of noise levels on medical anxiety in hospitalized children with pneumonia. METHODS: Children hospitalized for pneumonia in our hospital from January 2020 to December 2023 were consecutively enrolled in this study. They were divided into high- and low-noise groups according to the environmental noise level, using 60 dB as a threshold value. Demographic, clinical, and psychological data were collected from medical records and patient assessments. Statistical analyses, including post-hoc analysis, were performed to conduct relevant research. RESULTS: A total of 106 patients, including 66 patients with low noise and 40 patients with high noise, were included. Results revealed that children in the high-noise group exhibited significantly higher scores on the Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire compared to those in the low-noise group (32.56 ± 7.14 vs. 29.18 ± 6.25, t = 2.557, P = 0.012), as well as higher scores on the Face, Legs, Activity, Cry, Consolability (FLACC) behavioral pain scale (2.34 ± 0.96 vs. 2.01 ± 0.67, t = 2.081, P = 0.040), indicating higher levels of medical anxiety and pain perception in the high-noise group. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates that noise levels in the hospital environment have a substantial impact on the fears and perceptions of hospitalized children with pneumonia. High-noise levels were associated with increased medical anxiety and pain perception in pediatric patients.