Variation of decibels when sounding the monitor alarm inside vs. outside in the incubator in the NICU

Abstract

Objective: The objective of this study was to determine the decibel levels both inside and outside of the incubator in the NICU of a tertiary care hospital. Material and methods: A cross-sectional prospective analytical, experimental study was carried out, accepted by the Institution’s Ethics committee. The study consisted of measuring the decibels before and after the monitor’s sound both inside and outside the incubator. Decibel levels were also compared between the three shifts. Results: When comparing the total decibel averages within the incubator before the alarm sound, we found a total average of 62.2 4.7 and after the alarm sound 67.1 3.9 being statistically significant (<0.001). When comparing the total averages of the decibels outside the incubator before the alarm sound, a total average of 66.6 6.2 and after the alarm sound 72.2 7.2 was statistically significant (<0.001). Conclusions: The average decibels inside and outside the incubator before the monitor alarm sound is above 60 decibels, and the evening shift was the loudest period.

Keywords

• Decibels. NICU. Incubator.