ArticleEuropean journal of pediatrics2026
A quality improvement study on noise reduction in a level 3 neonatal intensive care unit.
Article in European journal of pediatrics, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
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Abstract
In many neonatal intensive care units, newborns are exposed to many sounds, including alarms and human activity. Noise consistently exceeds recommendations, having a potential negative impact on newborns' development. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of multimodal interventions on noise reduction in a level 3 neonatal intensive care unit. This was a quality-improvement monocentric study, conducted from February 2022 to May 2023. Interventions included a multiprofessional reflection on ways to reduce noise, a staff training, and a modification of the alarms' thresholds. Noise was evaluated before and after intervention using the number of noise peaks ≥ 45 dB/day, and the number of alarms/patient/day. Peaks ≥ 45 dB/day significantly decreased by 48% from before to after intervention (mean number (SD) 396.4 (152.7) versus 204.8 (64.6), p < 0.001). The mean number of ≥ 50 dB/day decreased from 110.0 (57.9) to 48.8 (22.4). The number of alarms decreased peaks from 257 alarms/patient/day before intervention to 134 alarms/patient/day after intervention.
conclusionA multimodal intervention focused on noise reduction was followed by a significant decrease in noise pollution in a level 3 NICU. Multicenter studies on the impact of interventions to reduce noise pollution on short- and long-term outcomes of preterm newborns are required to confirm these results. SUMMARY: In neonatal intensive care units, sound environment remains above noise recommendations all around the world despite evidence showing that exceeding noises can have negative effects on both patients and staff. A multi-professional reflection on noise reduction, a staff training, and a modification of patients' alarms decreased noise pollution in a neonatal intensive care unit. WHAT IS KNOWN: • Noise levels in NICUs consistently exceed international recommendations, potentially harming the neurodevelopment of preterm infants and increasing staff stress. WHAT IS NEW: • A multimodal approach (staff training, alarm threshold adjustment, and collective reflection) significantly reduced noise peaks over 45dB and the number of daily alarms per patient.
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