Effectiveness of a Protocol in Reducing the Noise Level in NICU

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.