The essay opens by emphasizing the significance of the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit for premature infants (NICU). The writers then outline the functions of the NICU as well as the technologies available in this area. They also claim that the constant presence of noise in this region is harmful to a preterm infant. As indicated in the paper, noise levels in the NICU have exceeded recommendations. Noise levels in these places should be kept to a minimum by NICU departments. One of strength of the article is that it uses information from many authors to discuss this issue. However, the article has a weakness in that it does not follow the common format of a research paper.
D'Souza, Sonia RB, et al. "Ambient Noise Levels in Acute Neonatal Intensive Care Unit of a Tertiary Referral Hospital." Journal of Krishna Institute of Medical Sciences (JKIMSU) 6.4 (2017).
The article discusses ambient noise levels in acute neonatal intensive care unit. The authors begin by stating that advances in the neonatal care have resulted in improved survival of neonates admitted to NICU. They further discuss that ambience in the NICU has the possibility to cause hearing loss for infants. The study has used a descriptive approach to the research. The results of the study show that higher noise levels in NICU can lead to hearing loss for the preterm baby. The strength of the research is evident in the way it has been arranged It follows conventional research paper format. The paper has a weakness in that it has a short conclusion and no recommendations.
Raoof, Almadhoob, and Arne Ohlsson. "Noise reduction management in the neonatal intensive care unit for preterm or very low birthweight infants." The Cochrane Library (2013).
The research paper begins by mentioning the stress that infants are subjected in NICU. The authors’ state that the sound levels in NICU is usually louder than most offices and at home. The research objective of the paper is determining the effects of sound reduction on growth and long term neurodevelopmental outcomes of neonates. The article articulates that elevated level of speech is required in NICU to overcome the noisy environment. The strength of the article can be identified by the organization of the topics and sub-topics. The only weakness in the paper is the lack of numerical data to substantiate the arguments.
Aly, Hisham Ahmed, and Ahmed Mohamed Ahmed. "Effect of Noise on Neonatal Vital Data and Behavior in NICU." Clinical Medicine and Diagnostics 6.1 (2016): 1-6.
The article discusses the effect of high sound pressure levels on maturing newborns. The authors postulate that high sound levels are harmful to preterm babies in NICU. Some of the machines that generate noise in NICU include incubator fan, environmental noise, and respiratory equipment. The researchers studied the noise effect on the maturing newborns by subjecting them to noise and checking their vital data and behavior. The result of the study showed that noise exposure for the children lead to behavioral change. The use of numerical data has strengthened the research paper. However, the paper has a weakness in that it has used few authors to support the issue being researched.
Liu, W. F., and NIC/Q 2005 Physical Environment Exploratory Group. "The impact of a noise reduction quality improvement project upon sound levels in the open-unit-design neonatal intensive care unit." J Perinatol 30.7 (2010): 489-496.
The authors of this research paper begin by stating that the presence of noise in the NICU has been identified as a concern to preterm infants. According to the authors, environmental noise pollution can impact negatively the developing brain of a preterm infant. To study this issue, the researchers visited the children’s hospital of Southwest Florida. They implemented a noise reduction program to identify the impact of noise reduction quality improvement on the infants. The results showed that noise reduction strategies did not result to any improvements especially quietness or loudness. The main strength of this paper is the extensive research that was carried out by the authors as identified by the citations. The main weakness is the lack of recommendations.
Committee on Environmental Health. "Noise Pollution: Neonatal Aspects." Pediatrics 100.4 (1974): 476-482.
In this article, noise pollution on neonates has been discussed with emphasis on the deafening effect of high intensity noise. The authors articulate that incubators are a source of noise for the preterm infants. Conversely, they argue that the interaction of ototoxic drugs and noise in an infant can combat sepsis whereby it can potentiate the effect of noise on hearing loss. The research paper strong point is its discussion of several factors that lead to noise for preterm infants. The main weakness of the research paper is its organization. The paper has been poorly organized and the points are no coherent.
Methods of Evaluating Evidence
Systematic review
This method of evaluating evidence works by critically assessing and evaluating all research studies, which address a particular clinical issue (Moher 1). A systematic review usually includes the description of findings of the collection of research studies.
Controlled Clinical trial
Controlled clinical trial is a method of evaluating evidence whereby it works through comparing the effectiveness of a treatment or medication with the effectiveness of another treatment or medication. Usually, the other treatment in controlled trials is a placebo and is considered the ‘control’ (Heidegger 385).
In both methods of evidence evaluation, comparison is used. Systematic review uses comparison by selecting many research studies (Shamseer, 764). In controlled clinical trials, the comparison is carried out in a particular medication or treatment directly. The differences in the methods of evaluating evidence is that systematic review can use many research studies while in controlled clinical trials, a few studies are used at one time (Dionne-Odom 1446).
Works cited
Aly, Hisham Ahmed, and Ahmed Mohamed Ahmed. "Effect of Noise on Neonatal Vital Data and Behavior in NICU." Clinical Medicine and Diagnostics 6.1 (2016): 1-6.
Committee on Environmental Health. "Noise Pollution: Neonatal Aspects." Pediatrics 100.4 (1974): 476-482.
D’Souza, Sonia RB, et al. "Noise in neonatal intensive care unit: effects on hospitalized preterm infants." Manipal Journal of Nursing and Health Sciences 1.1 (2015): 57-62.
Dionne-Odom, J. Nicholas, et al. "Benefits of early versus delayed palliative care to informal family caregivers of patients with advanced cancer: outcomes from the ENABLE III randomized controlled trial." Journal of clinical oncology 33.13 (2015): 1446-1452.
D'Souza, Sonia RB, et al. "Ambient Noise Levels in Acute Neonatal Intensive Care Unit of a Tertiary Referral Hospital." Journal of Krishna Institute of Medical Sciences (JKIMSU) 6.4 (2017).
Heidegger, Claudia Paula, et al. "Optimisation of energy provision with supplemental parenteral nutrition in critically ill patients: a randomised controlled clinical trial." The Lancet381.9864 (2013): 385-393.
Liu, W. F., and NIC/Q 2005 Physical Environment Exploratory Group. "The impact of a noise reduction quality improvement project upon sound levels in the open-unit-design neonatal intensive care unit." J Perinatol 30.7 (2010): 489-496.
Moher, David, et al. "Preferred reporting items for systematic review and meta-analysis protocols (PRISMA-P) 2015 statement." Systematic reviews 4.1 (2015): 1.
Raoof, Almadhoob, and Arne Ohlsson. "Noise reduction management in the neonatal intensive care unit for preterm or very low birthweight infants." The Cochrane Library (2013).
Shamseer, Larissa, et al. "Preferred reporting items for systematic review and meta-analysis protocols (PRISMA-P) 2015: elaboration and explanation." Bmj 349 (2015): 764-773.
