• R J Berens and C G Weigle.
• Children's Hospital of Wisconsin, Wauwatosa, USA.
• J Perinatol. 1996 May 1; 16 (3 Pt 1): 199-201.

ObjectiveOur purpose was to evaluate the cost and benefit of noise reduction after replacement of acoustic ceiling tile in an open ward neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).Study DesignAn observational, prospective study evaluated noise in an open ward NICU before and after suspended ceiling tiles were replaced. Noise was rated by a 10-point visual analog scale and measured with a decibel meter.ResultsThe mean decibel level was 55 before and 53 after renovation (p < 0.05). The median visual analog score was 5 before and 4 after renovation (p = 0.09). The cost of ceiling tile replacement was $2400.ConclusionsThe renovation resulted in a small decrease in the decibel level in the NICU, although this measured decrease was not perceived by observers. With a formal prerenovation noise evaluation, a more efficient ceiling tile might have been selected or the project may have been aborted or modified because of the low levels of noise already present.

14 keywords...

hide…