BEYOND HEARING LOSS: HOSPITAL NOISE AND PERCEIVED STRESS AMONG HEALTHCARE WORKERS

Hande Özgen; Öznur Turan; Betül Ağırgöl; Melih Alpay; Hakkı Caner İnan

doi:10.33457/ijhsrp.1903569

BEYOND HEARING LOSS: HOSPITAL NOISE AND PERCEIVED STRESS AMONG HEALTHCARE WORKERS

Abstract

Objectives: Noise is a common occupational hazard in healthcare settings and can impact mental health negatively. This study aimed to compare perceived stress levels among healthcare workers employed in high-noise units in hospitals and office workers, and to evaluate the relationship between noise exposure and perceived stress. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted with a total of 103 healthcare workers, 47 of whom worked in high-noise units. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire and a 14-item Perceived Stress Scale. Statistical analyses were performed using the chi-square test, t-test, Mann–Whitney U test, Kruskal–Wallis test, Spearman correlation analysis and multivariable linear regression. Results: Perceived Stress Scale scores were significantly higher among workers in noisy units compared with office workers [median: 28 vs. 25, p = 0.002]. Working in noisy units was associated with an approximately 5-point higher perceived stress score compared with office work, after adjustment for age, gender, and education level. Conclusions: Healthcare workers employed in units characterized by elevated background noise levels reported higher perceived stress scores than office workers. Considering the limitations of the study, these findings should be interpreted as indicating an association rather than providing evidence of a causal relationship. Nevertheless, the results suggest that occupational noise may contribute to perceived stress and support further investigation of occupational noise as a potential psychosocial risk factor in healthcare settings.

Keywords

Ethical Statement

Ethical approval for the study was obtained from the Ethics Committee of University of Health Sciences Bursa Yuksek Ihtisas Training and Research Hospital (protocol no: 2024-TBEK 2024/06-03) on June 12, 2024.

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Occupational Health and Safety

Journal Section

Research Article

Authors

Hande Özgen ^*
0000-0002-2877-226X
Türkiye

Öznur Turan
0009-0003-8082-3639
Türkiye

Betül Ağırgöl
0009-0003-6059-1703
Türkiye

Melih Alpay
0009-0006-9328-7080
Türkiye

Hakkı Caner İnan
0000-0001-6254-372X
Türkiye

Publication Date

June 24, 2026

Submission Date

March 6, 2026

Acceptance Date

June 10, 2026

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Volume: 11 Number: 2

DOI

https://doi.org/10.33457/ijhsrp.1903569

IZ

https://izlik.org/JA79GL57DJ

Cite

RIS / Bibtex

APA

Özgen, H., Turan, Ö., Ağırgöl, B., Alpay, M., & İnan, H. C. (2026). BEYOND HEARING LOSS: HOSPITAL NOISE AND PERCEIVED STRESS AMONG HEALTHCARE WORKERS. International Journal of Health Services Research and Policy, 11(2), 115-122. https://doi.org/10.33457/ijhsrp.1903569

AMA

1.Özgen H, Turan Ö, Ağırgöl B, Alpay M, İnan HC. BEYOND HEARING LOSS: HOSPITAL NOISE AND PERCEIVED STRESS AMONG HEALTHCARE WORKERS. IJHSRP. 2026;11(2):115-122. doi:10.33457/ijhsrp.1903569

Chicago

Özgen, Hande, Öznur Turan, Betül Ağırgöl, Melih Alpay, and Hakkı Caner İnan. 2026. “BEYOND HEARING LOSS: HOSPITAL NOISE AND PERCEIVED STRESS AMONG HEALTHCARE WORKERS”. International Journal of Health Services Research and Policy 11 (2): 115-22. https://doi.org/10.33457/ijhsrp.1903569.

EndNote

Özgen H, Turan Ö, Ağırgöl B, Alpay M, İnan HC (June 1, 2026) BEYOND HEARING LOSS: HOSPITAL NOISE AND PERCEIVED STRESS AMONG HEALTHCARE WORKERS. International Journal of Health Services Research and Policy 11 2 115–122.

IEEE

[1]H. Özgen, Ö. Turan, B. Ağırgöl, M. Alpay, and H. C. İnan, “BEYOND HEARING LOSS: HOSPITAL NOISE AND PERCEIVED STRESS AMONG HEALTHCARE WORKERS”, IJHSRP, vol. 11, no. 2, pp. 115–122, June 2026, doi: 10.33457/ijhsrp.1903569.

ISNAD

Özgen, Hande - Turan, Öznur - Ağırgöl, Betül - Alpay, Melih - İnan, Hakkı Caner. “BEYOND HEARING LOSS: HOSPITAL NOISE AND PERCEIVED STRESS AMONG HEALTHCARE WORKERS”. International Journal of Health Services Research and Policy 11/2 (June 1, 2026): 115-122. https://doi.org/10.33457/ijhsrp.1903569.

JAMA

1.Özgen H, Turan Ö, Ağırgöl B, Alpay M, İnan HC. BEYOND HEARING LOSS: HOSPITAL NOISE AND PERCEIVED STRESS AMONG HEALTHCARE WORKERS. IJHSRP. 2026;11:115–122.

MLA

Özgen, Hande, et al. “BEYOND HEARING LOSS: HOSPITAL NOISE AND PERCEIVED STRESS AMONG HEALTHCARE WORKERS”. International Journal of Health Services Research and Policy, vol. 11, no. 2, June 2026, pp. 115-22, doi:10.33457/ijhsrp.1903569.

Vancouver

1.Hande Özgen, Öznur Turan, Betül Ağırgöl, Melih Alpay, Hakkı Caner İnan. BEYOND HEARING LOSS: HOSPITAL NOISE AND PERCEIVED STRESS AMONG HEALTHCARE WORKERS. IJHSRP. 2026 Jun. 1;11(2):115-22. doi:10.33457/ijhsrp.1903569