New study being carried out to play music during transport after previous patients complain of increased stress levels caused by ambulance noise
A rising number of patients with cardio-vascular conditions being taken to hospital by ambulance are reporting stress in connection with the transport, and a north Jutland hospital will now push for the vehicles to play soothing music in an effort to ease stress levels.
A preliminary study carried out by Dr. Per Thorgaard, head of the ICU and anaesthesia department at Aalborg Hospital, found that noises such as ambulance sirens, beeping medical equipment and slamming doors do little to aid a patient’s transport.
‘Patients informed us that in particular wailing sirens, engine noise, rattling sounds and electronic noise from equipment were the worst ‘stressers’. On the other hand, sounds such as human interaction had the most calming effect,’ Thorgaard told public broadcaster DR.
The study was carried out by placing microphones in the ears of cardio-vascular patients in ambulances to pick up what noise they were being subjected to.
Cardio-vascular patients travelling by ambulance often face long journeys, as they are often admitted to regional specialist departments for their conditions. In outlying areas, such patients easily face transport times of more than 20 minutes.
‘Many noises in ambulances during transport – especially the sirens – cause maximum stress to cardio-vascular patients. And stress is toxic to these patients, so it’s crucial that we minimise the negative sounds in the ambulances,’ said Thorgaard.
Thorgaard and his team are now working with emergency rescue service Falck in northern Jutland to see how music played in ambulances impacts patients’ stress levels.
‘If music improves the experience for patients and reduces their stress levels, then a designed musical environment would not doubt be introduced to all ambulances nationwide,’ he predicted, saying that the scheme could be expanded at a relatively low cost.
The Copenhagen Post
