This study was conducted to investigate the prevalence of noise- induced hearing loss of ambulance nurses and to assess working conditions related to loud noise levels in ambulances.
This study was a cross sectional study studying 50 nurses, aged between 20-60 years working in the emergency department at Bangkok Hospital headquarters during October to November 2015 with the inclusion questionnaire, an otoscopic study was done and then audiometric examination to assess to the level of hearing. A sound level meter was used to measure the noise level in the cabin of the ambulance and to measure the noise exposure of the nurse a noise dosimeter was attached to the nurse in the ambulance. The survey was conducted during 20 round trips in Bangkok and 20 roundtrips in other provinces.
The prevalence of noise induced hearing loss among 50 nurses was 6 %.
The results showed that the samples did experience noise-induced hearing loss and are exposed to loud nois.
noise-induced hearing loss
10.31524/bkkmedj.2016.09.003