Implementation of a Focused Quiet Time on an Oncology Unit
Authors
Advisor
Date
Embargo until
Language
Book title
Publisher
Peer Reviewed
Type
Research Area
Jurisdiction
Collections
Other Titles
See at
Abstract
Problem: Excessive noise emerged as a significant contributor to sleep deprivation among adult patients in an inpatient oncology telemetry unit at a prominent teaching hospital, indicated by consistently low patient experience scores for nighttime quietness from 2019 to 2023. Purpose: This quality improvement (QI) project aims to implement and assess the efficacy of a Quiet Time (QT) protocol aimed at reducing noise levels within the unit. Methods: This quality improvement (QI) endeavor commenced with comprehensive training conducted by the project lead for all staff members, comprising 40 nurses and10 ancillary staff members. The QT protocol was executed for a two-hour period of duration in the late afternoon. The initiative encompassed a bundle of interventions, emphasizing care clustering before and after QT, provision of sleep-supportive supplies to patients, environmental control measures targeting sound and light, and care coordination with consulting disciplines. Process evaluation encompassed tracking training attendance, compliance with the QT protocol, and measurement of noise levels using a weighted decibel meter. Results and Conclusions: The average daily noise level readings the week prior to implementation during 2–3 pm was 62.28 decibels, which decreased to an average of 55.90 decibels during the 15 week implementation period. However, during the 3–4 pm period, noise levels exhibited minimal change, with averages of 56.80 and 57.09 decibels respectively. While there was a notable reduction in noise levels during the 2 – 3 pm time frame, the impact during the 3 – 4 pm period was less pronounced. The data indicates that the QT initiative has resulted in an overall downward trend in noise levels within the unit.