The present study verified the sound pressure levels inside incubators and at the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, six months after the implementation of an educational program. Quantitative and descriptive study carried out at the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and inside the incubators of a hospital. It was registered 151 hours and 30 minutes of sound pressure levels at the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and inside the incubators, in January 2009 and 2010. The highest and lowest mean Leq before the educational program at the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit were 71.0 dBA and 59.0 dBA, respectively. After the intervention, it was registered at the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit the mean Leq between 80.4 and 52.6 dBA. Inside the incubators, values varied from 79.2 and 40.0 dBA to 79.1 and 45.4dBA post intervention, remaining above the recommended values. It was verified that there was no reduction of sound pressure level after the intervention. Some strategies are suggested to sensitize the staff, preparation of a guideline, architectural changes, renovation and/or preventive maintenance of equipments.
Neonatal intensive care unit; Neonatal nursing; Noise; Neonatalogy
