Effectiveness of an educational package on awareness and adherence to standard acoustic environment among healthcare personnel in NICU

Abstract

Background: A comfortable acoustic environment in NICU set up can play an important role in health, healing, and well-being for neonate's especially preterm babies. The current study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of an educational package on awareness and adherence to standard acoustic environment among healthcare personnel in NICU. Methodology: A quantitative approach with pre-experimental one group pre-test, post-test design was adopted for the study. The samples from the selected hospitals were selected using purposive sampling technique. The sample consisted of 25 health care personnel of NICU. The tools used for data collection structured knowledge questionnaire, observational check list and sound meter. Result: Comparing the awareness and adherence between pre-test and post test revealed that in the awareness mean pre-test score rose from 6.20 to mean score 9.56 in post-test and was found to be statistically significant at p< 0.001. And adherence to acoustic environment pre-observation median percentage of behavioral pattern increased in post observation from 0.255 to 0.705 and median percentage of environmental control from 0.533 to 0.875. And was found to be statistically significant at level of I<0.05. Reduction in the decibel of sound level in each shift, after educational package showed that in the morning sound level 65 dB to 60 dB, in the afternoon sound level 62 dB to 60 dB and in the night shift 64 dB to 61dB. Conclusion: Study results showed significant improvement in the level of awareness and adherence to acoustic environment in NICU. Thus, it can be concluded that educational package was effective to increase and update their awareness and adherence to maintain acoustic environment in NICU.