Use of active noise cancellation devices in caregivers in the intensive care unit

Objective: Recent development of noise cancellation devices may offer relie f from noise in the intensive care unit environment. This study was conduct ed to evaluate the effect of noise cancellation devices on subjective heari ng assessment by caregivers in the intensive care units. Design: Randomized, double-blind. Setting: Adult medical intensive care unit and pediatric intensive care uni t of a teaching hospital. Subjects: Caregivers of patients, including nurses, parents, respiratory th erapists, and nursing assistants from a medical intensive care unit and ped iatric intensive care, were enrolled in the study. Intervention: Each participant was asked to wear the headphones, functional or nonfunctional noise cancellation devices, for a minimum of 30 mins, Measurements: Subjective ambient noise level was assessed on a 10-point vis ual analog scale (VAS) before and during headphone use by each participant. Headphone comfort and the preference of the caregiver to wear the headphon e were also evaluated on a 10-point VAS, Simultaneously, objective measurem ent of noise was done with a sound level meter using the decibel-A scale an d at each of nine octave bands at each bedspace, Results: The functional headphones significantly reduced the subjective ass essment of noise by 2 (out of 10) VAS points (p < 0.05) in environments of equal objective noise profiles, based on decibel-A and octave band assessme nts. Conclusion: Noise cancellation devices improve subjective assessment of noi se in caretakers. The benefit of these devices on hearing loss needs furthe r evaluation in caregivers and critically ill patients.