Volume : 3, Issue : 6, June - 2014

Effectiveness of A Protocol in Reducing The Noise Level in NICU

Malarvizhi M, Akilesh P M, Jolly Sebastian

Abstract :

Background: A neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) is an intensive care unit, specializing in the care of ill or premature newborn infants.Materials and Methods: Case study method was used for this study. The study was conducted in the NICU of Father Muller Medical College Hospital, Mangalore. The hospital is a 1250 bedded multi– speciality hospital. This NICU has the bed strength of 25 and has modern equipment’s to manage critically ill new–borns. Purposive sampling technique was used. Digital sound level meter (Model: SL 4010) was used to measure the sound level. Results: The mean and standard deviation of pretest noise level was 62.19 dB ± 0.844 and posttest noise level was 50.74 dB ± 1.373. Conclusion: Average noise levels of equipment’s and activities were reduced.