Research by a Fattahpour-lead team indicates that there are positive implications of nature soundscaping hospital emergency departments. The researchers report that “Nature sound was played for an hour at the commencement and conclusion of each work shift for two months. Subsequently, participants completed the three questionnaires. . . . Introducing nature sounds in the emergency department reduced job stress and increased staff productivity. However, job satisfaction levels did not change significantly. . . . Nature sounds exhibit preventive and therapeutic benefits for people's psychological and physical well-being. As a non-invasive and safe treatment modality, it can be employed as a complementary therapy in emergency departments (EDs) and busy medical wards to help uplift people's spirits, particularly during periods of stress or anxiety. . . . The participants were exposed to nature sounds selected from the nature sound databases throughout the study period. These nature sounds constituted a blend of bird songs, waterfall sounds, and similar elements.”
Shirin Fattahpour, Mehdi Isfahani, Mohammad Hatami, and Asyeh Mehr. 2024. “The Impact of Nature Sounds on Job Stress, Satisfaction, and Productivity Among Emergency Department Staff.” Avicenna, vol. 2024, no. 1, https://doi.org/10.5339/avi.2024.2