Hospital Environmental Exposure

• Research type

  Research Study

• Full title

  Environmental exposures in a clinical setting: the impact on patients

• IRAS ID

  339451

• Contact name

  Joshua Vande Hey

• Contact email

  jvh7@leicester.ac.uk

• Sponsor organisation

  University of Leicester

• Duration of Study in the UK

  1 years, 7 months, 30 days

• Research summary

  There are very few health-based guidelines regarding hospital environments. There a little to no guidelines with regards to concentrations of air pollutants in hospitals. With regards to noise in hospital wards The World Health Organisation (WHO) have recommended that noise in hospital wards should not exceed 30 dB at night, however owing to excessive noise generated by a number of factors, these noise levels can be larger, up to 75 dB within intensive care units. Noise therefore is a common complaint from patients with regards to disrupting their sleep. There are also no clear guidelines on light levels in clinical settings. The link between sleep and health is well known.
  
  The proposed study will aim to answer the research question- do current environmental exposures in clinical settings impact health, through the collection of pilot data on the hospital environment and patient sleep.

  We aim to install environmental monitors in patient wards in University Hospitals Leicester (UHL). We will measure levels of air pollutants, noise and light. Wearable sensors will be given to patients which will measure; activity (as an indicator of sleep), heart rate and body temperature. Using these data, the impact of the environment on patient sleep will be assessed. A sleep diary will be given to patients to assess sleep. The sleep diary will also ask patients to rate sleep quality ask for opinions on sleep disruptions in the ward.

  This project is a pilot study, the data collected will allow us to develop a robust methodology for environmental monitoring within hospital settings. By measuring the environment, linking noise, light and poor air quality to patient well-being through consideration of sleep, we aim to suggest realistic and practical interventions that could be used to enhance patient recovery.

• REC name

  East of England - Cambridge East Research Ethics Committee

• REC reference

  24/EE/0240

• Date of REC Opinion

  22 Nov 2024

• REC opinion

  Further Information Favourable Opinion