Iranian Journal of Ergonomics

Introduction: As a healthcare providing establishment, hospitals can be affected by sources of noise pollution which then impose negative effects on the health and comfort of patients and personnel. The present study was conducted to determine the relationship between sound annoyance and general health in the personnel of university affiliated and non-university affiliated hospitals in Shiraz.

Materials and Methods: The present descriptive analytical study was conducted in four university affiliated and non-university affiliated hospitals in Shiraz with a sample size of 300 using a predetermined equation and according to the results of previous studies. The instruments used in the study included the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ), the Noise Annoyance Scale (NAS) and an audiometer (CEL-440 model).

Findings: The present study found a small inverse relationship between the total general health score in the hospital personnel and the sound pressure level at university-affiliated hospitals (r=-0.103) and a direct positive relationship at non-university affiliated hospitals (r=0.274), which were not statistically significant (P≤0.05). The relationship of somatic symptoms, anxiety, insomnia, social dysfunction and depression to sound pressure was inverse and small (r=-0.195 and P≥0.05). However, there was a direct positive relationship between general health and sound annoyance (r=0.266 and P≤0.05).Conclusion: According to the results obtained, noise levels are higher than the acceptable exposure limit in university-affiliated hospitals, which affect both the patients' and the personnel's general health, necessitating the adoption of control measures.

Introduction: Listening to music during physical activity reduces the perceived stress on body. Hence, this study aimed to evaluate the effects of music genre and sound pressure level on calorie consumption and physical performance of students during treadmill tests.

Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 27 students were randomly selected. A demographic questionnaire, Borg Rating of Perceived Exertion Scale (RPE 6-20), and the Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire (PAR-Q) were used for data collection. During flat and sloped treadmill running (five minutes at 6 km/hour), two pieces of music with fast and slow tempo (200 and 70 beat per minute) were also played at two sound pressure levels (60 and 80 dB). During the exercise, the students’ heart rate and calorie consumption were measured by a calorimeter (Beurer PM100). At each stage, the physical performance of the participants was estimated using the relevant equation.

Results: The students had the lowest physical performance (61.48) when no music was played and the highest physical performance (92.48) with slow, loud music. The mean heart rate, calorie consumption, and perceived exertion were maximized without music and minimized when slow, loud music was played.

Conclusion: Playing soft music at high sound pressure levels can promote physical performance during exercise by decreasing heart rate, calorie consumption, and perceived exertion.