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Am J Perinatol 2022; 39(02): 189-194
DOI: 10.1055/s-0040-1714679
Original Article

Assessment of Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Sound Exposure Using a Smartphone Application

Christine Capriolo
1   Department of Pediatrics, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
,
Rose M. Viscardi
1   Department of Pediatrics, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
,
Karen A. Broderick
2   Department of Pediatrics, St. Agnes Hospital, Baltimore, Maryland
,
Sepideh Nassebeh
2   Department of Pediatrics, St. Agnes Hospital, Baltimore, Maryland
,
Michael Kochan 
1   Department of Pediatrics, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
,
Nina S. Solanki
3   Department of Pediatrics, Jersey Shore University Medical Center Neptune City, Neptune City, New Jersey
,
Jocelyn C. Leung 
1   Department of Pediatrics, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
› Author Affiliations Funding None.
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Abstract

Objective This study aimed to determine the impact of neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) design and environmental factors on neonatal sound exposures. We hypothesized that monitoring with a smartphone application would identify modifiable environmental factors in different NICU design formats.

Study Design Minimum, maximum, and peak decibel (dB) recordings were obtained using the Decibel X phone app, and the presence of noise sources was recorded in each patient space at three NICUs over a 6-month period (December 2017 to May 2018). Data were analyzed by Student's t-test and ANOVA with Bonferroni correction. Data were collected at the University of Maryland Medical Center single family room (SFR) level IV and St. Agnes Healthcare hybrid pod/single family room level III NICU, Baltimore, MD and at Prince George's Hospital Center open-pod design Level III NICU, Cheverly, MD.

Results All recordings in the three NICUs exceeded the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommended <45 dB level. The maximum and peak dB were highest in the open pod format level III NICU. Conversations/music alone and combined with other factors contributed to increased sound exposure. Sound exposure varied by day/night shift, with higher day exposures at the level III hybrid and open pod NICUs and higher night exposures at the level IV SFR NICU.

Conclusion Although sound exposure varied by NICU design, all recordings exceeded the AAP recommendation due, in part, to potentially modifiable environmental factors. A smartphone application may be useful for auditing NICU sound exposure in quality improvements efforts to minimize environmental sound exposure.

Key Points

  • Smartphone application was used to assess NICU sound exposure.

  • All cases of sound exposure exceed recommendations.

  • A smartphone application was used to identify modifiable factors.

Keywords

NICU design - sound exposure - smartphone application - sound monitoring

Authors' Contributions

C.C. and J.C.L. conceptualized and designed the study including acquisition and analysis of the data, drafting, and revising content. R.M.V. contributed to conception and study design, analysis and interpretation of the data, and revision of content. K.A.B., S.N., M.K., and N.S.S. contributed to data acquisition and assisted in critical revision of content. All authors approved the final version of the manuscript.




Publication History

Received: 16 December 2019

Accepted: 22 June 2020

Article published online:
23 July 2020

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