Mean noise amounts in level II vs level III neonatal intensive care units.
OBJECTIVE
To compare mean noise amounts in Level II NICUs with those in Level III NICUs after controlling statistically for the number of infants per unit.


METHODS
A between-group design was used in measuring noise amounts.


METHODS
Noise amounts were sampled using a central site procedure during two time periods of approximately 25 minutes each (total time approximately 50 minutes) in five Level II NICUs and seven Level III NICUs in Colorado.


METHODS
Average noise amounts (in dB) from two time periods of approximately 25 minutes each (total time approximately 50 minutes).


RESULTS
Mean noise amounts were significantly higher in Level III NICUs (mean = 54.89 dB) than in Level II NICUs (mean = 49.07 dB). This result remained statistically significant even after correcting statistically for total number of babies present in each NICU during noise measurements.
Levy
Gary D
GD
Family and Consumer Studies Department, and Office of Institutional Analysis, University of Utah, Salt Lake City 84112-9359, USA. gary.levy@utah.edu
Woolston
Dixie J
DJ
Browne
Joy V
JV
D006272:Health Facility Environment / Q000592:standards; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007230:Infant, Low Birth Weight; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D007363:Intensive Care Units, Neonatal / Q000592:standards; D015931:Intensive Care, Neonatal; D009622:Noise / Q000009:adverse effects