What is this study about?
A noisy environment is inherently more stressful for all individuals on the unit from the healthcare professionals to the babies and their parents. This has been reflected in previous studies targeted at adult population, that showed prolonged exposure to noisy environments is detrimental to one's health.
The majority of babies who spend extended periods on the neonatal units are premature. It is self-evident and is supported by evidence that the neuronal pathways that develop in the environment of noise, light, and other stimuli, are different to the ones that would have developed had the pregnancy gone to term, when the rapidly developing foetal brain is shielded from the above stimuli. It is therefore essential that babies are nursed in a quiet environment to allow for cognitive development. The American Academy of Paediatrics recommends 45dB – noise level comparable to that produced by soft sounds of normal volume human speech. Furthermore, exposure to brief loud noise produces stress and as such is detrimental to physical health through higher levels of stress hormones in exposed patients.
There is another important dimension to the noise narrative. For the healthcare professionals, high noise levels could make it difficult for individuals to focus on the task at hand. This could and, arguably, does result in inadvertent mistakes and errors of judgement, which could lead to direct patient harm. Furthermore, clear communication, which has always been the key to provision of high quality care, could also be impeded.
This study will provide a robust insight into the opinions of the healthcare professionals that work on the neonatal units in Wales on the impact of noise. Utilising a robustly-designed questionnaire, the study will help to understand and document the prevailing opinions, beliefs, and practices of the healthcare staff on the neonatal units in Wales on the impact of noise on their professional performance and on the wellbeing of their patients. The findings will be used to inform clinical guidance, policy-making, and future research.
Contact
Dr Art Abelian
Sponsor
Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board
Funder
North Wales Child Health Research Fund, Cherish Neonatal Charity