O uso de aplicativos para smartphone na mensuração sonora ambiental em uma unidade de terapia intensiva neonatal: um estudo de acurácia

Abstract

Specifications for Sound Level Meters. Technological advances have improved health behaviors aimed at premature and underweight children (RNP), increasing the chances of survival and the length of stay in intensive care units. Health care practices can favorably impact neurodevelopment through the promotion of neuroprotective technologies and strategies to reduce stress and pain. In this context, “smartphones” are multifunctional devices that enable functionalities beyond communication. Currently, there are several applications whose creation proposals are related to the measurement of environmental noise. They are digital tools that have the same purpose as decibel meters, devices that measure ambient sound pressure levels. That said, it is hypothesized that noise measurement applications are viable instruments for measuring noise in the intensive care unit. Objective: to analyze the feasibility of using applications to measure noise in a neonatal intensive care unit. Methodology: Accuracy study, carried out in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit of a teaching hospital in a capital of northeastern Brazil, the sample used was a census, where measurements of sound noise were performed in all NICU beds and at three different times, totaling 30 measures. To measure the sound noise, a digital decibel meter “MINIPA® MSL-1301” and a “smartphone” “samsung® J7” with the applications “Sound meter”, “Sound detector”, “Smart tools” installed were used. These were selected by searching the “play store”. Result: In all applications, the minimum and medium levels were the ones that presented the greatest variations, while the averages for the maximum noises approached the decibel meters. Suggesting that the use of APPs is more reliable for measuring maximum noise. Among all applications, APP 3 was more accurate. Conclusion: APP2 and APP3 were viable, but APP3 with greater accuracy, being considered as another viable resource for measuring noise inside NICUs, but testing this and other applications in various types of NICUs is suggested.