scholarly journals The Influence of Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Design on Sound Level

2009 ◽  
Vol 50 (6) ◽  
pp. 270-274 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hsin-Li Chen ◽  
Chao-Huei Chen ◽  
Chih-Chao Wu ◽  
Hsiu-Jung Huang ◽  
Teh-Ming Wang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Intensive Care Unit ◽  
Intensive Care ◽  
Neonatal Intensive Care Unit ◽  
Neonatal Intensive Care ◽  
Sound Level ◽  
Unit Design

scholarly journals Level and Noise Sources in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit of a Reference Hospital

2020 ◽  
Vol 38 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Alma Damaris Hernández-Salazar ◽  
Josefina Gallegos-Martínez ◽  
Jaime Reyes-Hernández
Keyword(s):  
Intensive Care Unit ◽  
Intensive Care ◽  
Neonatal Intensive Care Unit ◽  
Neonatal Intensive Care ◽  
Environmental Noise ◽  
Sound Level ◽  
Noise Sources ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Reference Hospital ◽  
And Shifts

Objective. Determine the level of environmental and periauricular noise in preterm babies and identify the sources generating noise in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit -NICU- of a reference hospital in San Luis Potosí, Mexico. Methods. Cross-sectional and analytic study of the measurement of the level of environmental noise in five critical areas of the NICU, according with the method of measurement of noise from fixed sources by the Mexican Official Norm and periauricular at 20 cm from the preterm patient’s pinna. The measurements were carried out during three representative days of a week,morning, evening and nocturnal shifts. A STEREN 400 sound level meter was used with 30 to 130 dB range of measurement and a rate of 0.5 s. Results. The average level of periauricular noise (64.5±1.91dB) was higher than the environmental noise (63.3±1.74 dB) during the days and shifts evaluated. The principal noise sources were activities carried out by the staff, like the nursing change of shift and conversations by the staff, which raised the level continuously or intermittently, operation of vital support equipment (alarms) and incidences (clashing of baby bottles and moving furnishings) producedsudden rises of noise. Conclusions. Environmental and periauricular noise in NICU exceeds by two and almost three times the 45 dB during the day and 35 dB at night from the norm in hospitals. It is necessary to implement permanent noise reduction programs to prevent sequelae in the preterm infant and professional burnout in the nursing staff.

Comparison of Private Room with Multiple-Bed Ward Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Environments

2011 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 52-63 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard A. Van Enk ◽  
Florence Steinberg
Keyword(s):  
Intensive Care Unit ◽  
Intensive Care ◽  
Neonatal Intensive Care Unit ◽  
Patient Care ◽  
Environmental Conditions ◽  
Neonatal Intensive Care ◽  
Sound Level ◽  
Room Design ◽  
Temperature And Humidity ◽  
Open Ward

Objective: This study determined whether a private room or open ward design better met optimal environmental conditions for a neonatal intensive care unit with regard to sound level, light level, temperature and humidity. Background: Multiple-bed designs for hospital neonatal intensive care units were the standard until recently. Now, private room designs promise to provide better conditions for neonate development and patient care quality. Methods: The study compared an eight-bed open ward design with a private room design of a 45-bed neonatal intensive care unit, measuring the environmental parameters of sound, light, temperature, and humidity before and after the construction and occupation of a new private room unit. Results: Average light levels were higher in the private room design because of the increased number of windows, but both designs were within the recommended levels. Mean temperature readings were two degrees cooler in the private room environment, and readings were more stable. Mean humidity readings in the two environments were the same, but humidity levels in the private room design were more stable. Median sound level in the private room design was lower than the open ward design, but the range was similar. Conclusion: The private room design allows for a more controlled patient care environment that can be maintained within a smaller range of variation nearer optimal environmental conditions.

Single-family room neonatal intensive care unit design: do patient outcomes actually change?

2020 ◽  
Vol 40 (6) ◽  
pp. 867-874 ◽  
Author(s):  
Susan E. Puumala ◽  
Renae K. Rich ◽  
Lonnie Roy ◽  
Regina Reynolds ◽  
Francesqca E. Jimenez ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Intensive Care Unit ◽  
Intensive Care ◽  
Neonatal Intensive Care Unit ◽  
Patient Outcomes ◽  
Neonatal Intensive Care ◽  
Single Family ◽  
Unit Design

scholarly journals Noise Level and Frequency Experienced by Premature Infants Receiving Incubator Care in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit

2020 ◽  
Vol 26 (2) ◽  
pp. 296-308
Author(s):  
So Hyun Joo ◽  
Tae Im Kim
Keyword(s):  
Intensive Care Unit ◽  
Intensive Care ◽  
Neonatal Intensive Care Unit ◽  
Premature Infants ◽  
Noise Level ◽  
Neonatal Intensive Care ◽  
Pearson Correlation ◽  
Sound Level ◽  
University Hospital ◽  
Incubator Care

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify the noise level and frequency experienced by premature infants receiving incubator care in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Methods: The participants were 20 premature infants receiving incubator care in the NICU of a university hospital in Daejeon Metropolitan city. The noise level was measured using a professional sound-level meter (ET-958, FLUS, Shenzhen, China) based on a noise classification table developed by the author. The data were analyzed with descriptive statistics, the t-test, analysis of variance, and Pearson correlation coefficients using SPSS for Windows version 22.0. Results: The average noise level experienced by premature infants receiving incubator care in the NICU was 51.25 dB (range: 45.0~81.7 dB). The frequency of noises was highest for factors related to nursing activities (40.3%), followed by human factors (29.1%), machine alarm sounds (20.1%), incubator operation (6.6%), and internal environmental factors (3.9%). Conclusion: According to the above results, the noise level experienced by premature infants receiving incubator care in the NICU exceeded the recommendations of the American Academy of Pediatrics. Therefore, it is necessary to develop an interventional program to reduce noise in the NICU, and to conduct follow-up studies to verify its effectiveness.

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