SURVEY OF CHARACTERISTICS OF THE ODOR IN MEDICAL FACILITIES

Abstract

This research clearly shows unpleasant odors in hospitals, with the goal of obtaining the basic information needed for formulating measures to control such odors. In the study, we conducted a survey of the odor awareness of nursing staff members at 174 medical institutions, and compared the results with past research related to odors in nursing homes for the elderly. 88.5% of the nurses sensed odors in hospitals. 81.0% considered it a problem and 67.2% recognized a need for improvement. The most odorous places included sickrooms, sick wards, sanitary rooms, and lavatories. Among odor types, excrement odors were most frequently remarked. In addition, there was also body odor, chemical odors from medicines, and the odors of food, tobacco smoke odor, moldy odor, etc. The odors from the excrement of bedridden patients, patients with urinary incontinence, patients who use diapers, and patients who use portable toilets were presumed to be factors that affected odor environment. When the odor level of hospital sickrooms and nursing home bedrooms were compared, increased odor intensity and unpleasantness were observed in sickrooms. It was shown that greater measures to control odors are necessary in hospitals than those necessary in nursing homes.