Management of changes for noise control in neonatal intensive therapy

experience report

Abstract

The objective of this study was to report an experiment on participatory planning
and management of changes for noise control in a neonatal intensive care unit of a
public teaching hospital in the Triângulo Mineiro. This is a research project that had the
university outreach activities as one of its interfaces. The motivation for its development
was to support the hospital's strategic objectives to guarantee the quality of patient
care and patient safety before the articulation between teaching-research-outreach
activities and care provision. The theoretical-methodological framework that guided
the conduction of the experience was the logical framework, historically derived from
planning methods that guaranteed spaces for teamwork and the participation of the
various stakeholders in the project. The management of changes was conducted by
a managerial group with expertise in the theme, represented by local workers and
teachers/researchers. Activities took place between April and May/2017. The diagnosis
of the problem-situation counted on a measurement of the noise in the place before the interventions (level between 62-82 dB); the perception of noise in
the sector was high and very high according to 88.3% of the workers.
The results obtained were: engagement of hospital authorities and the
responsible for legitimization in the proposal; sensitization and training
of workers, teachers/researchers, residents and academics to control
noise; and implementation of measures to control noise. Changes
were jointly articulated among workers, university representatives,
and managers: in the infrastructure of the environment, in the direct
handling of the newborn, and in the attitude of the team. There is a
need for longitudinal follow-up regarding the way the initiatives have
impacted on noise reduction and on the well-being of workers.