A comparison of the light-reduction capacity of commonly used incubator covers.
OBJECTIVE
The use of incubator covers to enhance preterm infants' rest and recovery is common in the NICU. However, the kinds of covers used vary extensively among and within nurseries. Few data exist on the effectiveness of different types of covers in reducing light levels to the infant. This study compared several types of commonly used incubator covers as to efficacy of light reduction.


METHODS
A descriptive, comparative design was used in this study.


METHODS
Twenty-three incubator covers were tested, including professional, receiving blanket, hand-crocheted, three-layer quilt, and flannel.


METHODS
The percentage of light level reduction of different incubator covers under various ambient light level settings.


RESULTS
The amount of light reduction provided by incubator covers varies depending on type of fabric as well as percentage of incubator surface shielded by the cover. Dark-colored covers provided greater light reduction than bright/light-colored covers when covers identical in fabric type were compared. The light-reduction efficiency of the covers varied depending on the level of ambient light. Covers provided less light reduction in higher ambient light levels.
Lee
Yi-Hui
YH
Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, USA. yxl78@po.cwru.edu
Malakooti
Nima
N
Lotas
Marilyn
M
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D003116:Color; D004867:Equipment Design; D006801:Humans; D007185:Incubators; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D008029:Lighting