The Effect of White Noise on Sleep, Quality of Recovery, and Satisfaction in Patients Undergoing Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy

Studies indicate that patients must cope with issues such as pain, anxiety, and environmental noise during the postoperative period following surgical interventions. These factors negatively affect patients' sleep, quality of recovery, and satisfaction with care. Although laparoscopic cholecystectomy involves a short hospital stay, sleep problems are frequently observed during the first 24 hours postoperatively due to factors such as shoulder and abdominal pain, nausea, and ward noise. While pharmacological pain control and sleep-regulating agents are used to alleviate insomnia, they are not fully effective on their own due to potential side effects such as respiratory depression, delirium, and nausea/vomiting; therefore, it is recommended that pharmacological approaches be supplemented with non-pharmacological interventions. Recent studies demonstrate a growing interest in non-pharmacological methods within postoperative care.

Non-pharmacological methods include practices such as taking a warm shower, optimizing the environment for sleep, massage, listening to music, and aromatherapy. One such method is the use of white noise. White noise is a non-pharmacological intervention that creates a more suitable and uninterrupted sleep environment by masking irregular environmental sounds. By providing constant acoustic stimulation, it reduces the perception of environmental noise, facilitates the transition to sleep, supports sleep quality, and can help reduce nighttime awakenings. The literature indicates that white noise suppresses the stress response by increasing parasympathetic activity and contributes to the quality of recovery and patient satisfaction by lowering pain thresholds and anxiety levels. Studies in the literature demonstrate the positive effects of white noise on sleep quality and patient experience across various patient groups. Cho and Hwang (2021) reported that white noise application improved sleep quality in hospitalized patients. Similarly, a 2016 study conducted with individuals aged 65 and older in a coronary intensive care unit found that white noise enhanced sleep quality and patient satisfaction. Positive effects of white noise have also been observed in surgical patient groups. Dai et al. (2026) reported beneficial effects of white noise on sleep in patients following ureteroscopic lithotripsy. Furthermore, a study involving intensive care patients determined that white noise contributed to improvements in sleep duration and sleep efficiency. In a study of patients undergoing lumbar disc herniation surgery, Kızılkaya et al. (2026) noted that white noise increased levels of sleep quality, comfort, and satisfaction. Another study reported that white noise administered during arthroscopic surgery increased patient satisfaction and comfort levels, while also resulting in significant increases in respiratory rate and oxygen saturation, and significant decreases in heart rate and systolic and diastolic blood pressure. Oshvandi et al. (2020) reported that the application of white noise-consisting of sounds such as ocean waves, rivers, and rain-reduced sleep disturbances and increased patient comfort in patients monitored in the intensive care unit following open-heart surgery.

These findings indicate that white noise is a safe and feasible method capable of supporting sleep quality, enhancing patient comfort, and contributing to satisfaction with care across various clinical settings. A review of the literature reveals that while most studies on white noise application have focused on newborns and intensive care patients, research regarding its use in the postoperative period remains limited. In particular, the scarcity of studies simultaneously evaluating the effects of white noise on sleep quality, recovery quality, and patient satisfaction-specifically in patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy-underscores the necessity of this research.

In this context, it is anticipated that the application of white noise could serve as an effective, innovative, and easily implementable nursing intervention to improve sleep and recovery quality among surgical patients. Although the literature contains numerous studies on the use of white noise in neonatal intensive care units and with pediatric patients, there is a notable gap regarding its application as a specific intervention for surgical patient populations. By addressing this gap, the proposed randomized controlled trial will contribute to the development of evidence-based, non-pharmacological nursing practices applicable during the postoperative period. The findings are expected to provide a scientific basis for clinical practices aimed at enhancing patient safety and sleep quality, as well as improving the overall quality of care.