Table 1 Irritation ratings and sound level estimations of 20 noise sources per category

Telephone

3.26 ± 0.81

1

63.4 ± 13.7

3

70-80 [28]

Surveillance monitor (alarms)

3.21 ± 0.72

2

67.0 ± 13.1

2

44-78 [29]

Conversation of colleagues

3.10 ± 0.82

3

63.3 ± 14.6

4

59-90 [29]

Open packages

3.08 ± 1.01

4

68.4 ± 19.2

1

86 [29]

Pager

2.92 ± 0.98

5

58.9 ± 18.7

9

84 [28]

Dialysis machine

2.75 ± 0.89

6

60.3 ± 18.8

7

55 [a]

Mechanical ventilators

2.74 ± 0.83

7

60.7 ± 15.8

6

49-77 [7]

Squeaking shoes

2.68 ± 0.97

8

52.4 ± 18.8

17

Medical visit

2.58 ± 0.92

9

59.8 ± 15.4

8

59-90 [29]

Syringe pump

2.57 ± 0.85

10

55.1 ± 19.4

14

Suction pump

2.47 ± 0.89

11

55.6 ± 16.5

11

70-82 [7] (open)

Transport monitor, ventilator

2.41 ± 0.82

12

60.7 ± 16.6

5

Ringing/bell

2.39 ± 0.94

13

55.2 ± 18.2

12

40 [a]

ECMO machine

2.36 ± 1.02

14

56.4 ± 20.3

10

Open/close drawers

2.30 ± 0.88

15

52.7 ± 19.1

16

85.7 [7]

Conversation of visitors

2.29 ± 0.76

16

53.8 ± 15.2

15

59-90 [29]

Brake on the bed

2.18 ± 0.98

17

55.1 ± 21.2

13

Heated blanket

2.16 ± 0.92

18

44.0 ± 18.9

19

40 [a]

Compressed air

2.10 ± 0.93

19

51.7 ± 20.4

18

70-77 [7] (open)

Thoracic drainage

1.60 ± 0.69

20

36.2 ± 19.2

20

45 [a]