Background: 

Premature and sick neonates may require weeks of hospitalization in a noisy neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) environment with sound levels that may reach 120 decibels. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends a maximum sound level of 45 decibels.

Purpose: 

To measure sound levels in a level III NICU and to describe contributing environmental factors.

Methods: 

Descriptive quantitative study. Sound levels were measured using a portable sound meter in an open-bay level III NICU. Contributing environmental factors were recorded and analyzed.

Results: 

Mean sound levels for day, evening, and night shifts were 83.5, 83, and 80.9 decibels, respectively. Each period of time exceeded the recommended guidelines 90% of the time and was almost double the American Academy of Pediatrics' recommendation. Multiple linear regression findings demonstrated significant factors associated with elevated sound levels including number of neonates, number of people, number of alarms, acuity level, and shift type. Observational data explain 14.5% of elevated sound levels.

Implications for Practice: 

An understanding of baseline sound levels and contributing environmental factors is the first step in developing strategies to mitigate excessive noise in the NICU.

Implications for Research: 

Research should focus on effective and sustainable ways to reduce sound levels in the NICU, including inside the isolette, in order to provide an environment that is conducive to optimal growth and neurodevelopment for preterm and sick infants.

中文翻译：

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新生儿重症监护病房的声级升高：是什么原因造成的？

背景： 

早产儿和患病新生儿可能需要在噪声级可能达到 120 分贝的嘈杂的新生儿重症监护室 (NICU) 环境中住院数周。美国儿科学会建议最大声级为 45 分贝。

目的： 

测量III 级 NICU 中的声级并描述影响的环境因素。

方法： 

描述性定量研究。在开放式 III 级 NICU 中使用便携式声级计测量声级。记录并分析了影响的环境因素。

结果： 

白班、晚班和夜班的平均声级分别为 83.5、83 和 80.9 分贝。每个时期90%的时间都超过了建议的指导方针，几乎是美国儿科学会建议的两倍。多元线性回归结果表明，与声级升高相关的重要因素包括新生儿数量、人数、警报数量、敏锐程度和轮班类型。观测数据解释了 14.5% 的声级升高。

对实践的启示： 

了解基线声级和影响环境因素是制定减轻新生儿重症监护病房过度噪音策略的第一步。

对研究的影响： 

研究应侧重于有效和可持续的方法来降低新生儿重症监护室（包括隔离室内）的噪音水平，以便为早产儿和患病婴儿提供有利于最佳生长和神经发育的环境。