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A Randomized Controlled Trial to Evaluate the Effect of White Noises and Parental Voices As Protectors Against Noise Damage in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit

Not Applicable
Terminated
Conditions
Premature Infant Disease
Interventions
Behavioral: White Noises and Maternal and/or Paternal voices
Registration Number
NCT06150404
Lead Sponsor
Istituto Giannina Gaslini
Brief Summary

The goal of this Randomized Controlled Trial is to test the efficacy of listening to white noises and parental voices against environmental noise damage in premature babies admitted to the Newborn Intensive Care Unit.

The main question it aims to answer is:

• Could the combined use of white noises and maternal and/or paternal voices reduce the negative outcomes of continuous exposure to hospital noises on newborns hospitalized in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit?

Participants in the intervention group will listen to a recorded track composed of white noises and voices of their parents who read a story or sing a lullaby from the day of enrollment until the day of discharge, for 4 hours per day.

Researchers will compare the intervention group with the control group (who will receive the usual care provided without any intervention on the noise level) to see if babies enrolled in the intervention group show fewer events of tachycardia, tachypnea, desaturation, apnoea, and language or hearing impairment.

Detailed Description

Not available

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
TERMINATED
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
11
Inclusion Criteria
  • Patients admitted to the NICU with gestational age at birth ≥ 31 weeks (as this is the age at which sound perception is ≥ 40 dB and there is predictable clinical stability to allow intervention delivery without excessive interruptions)
  • Patients admitted to the NICU who reach gestational age ≥ 31 weeks
  • Patients monitored with the following types of monitors: Masimo rainbow SET™ (Masimo); Infinity® Delta (Draeger); Infinity® Acute Care System (Draeger); Efficia CM (Philips).
Exclusion Criteria
  • Patients with gestational age at birth < 31 weeks
  • Patients affected by meningitis or severe cerebral insults, congenital brain anomalies, congenital syndromes with suspected or known brain dysfunction
  • Patients diagnosed with hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy
  • Patients with significant airway abnormalities resulting in altered breathing during sleep
  • Patients with terminal illnesses
  • Patients with congenital anomalies of the face, ears, skull, or brain
  • Patients with non-bacterial congenital infections
  • Patients with congenital hearing deficits
  • Patients whose parents or legal guardians refuse to participate in the study
  • Patients already enrolled in other clinical studies.

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Intervention GroupWhite Noises and Maternal and/or Paternal voicesThose in the intervention group will receive the administration of white noises and maternal and/or paternal voice recording.
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Reduction of heart rate alterationThrough study completion, an average of 2 year

Reduction, in the patients enrolled in the intervention group compared to the control group, in episodes of heart rate alteration associated with noises \> 45 dB (nursing diagnosis: risk of tachycardia - HR \>180 bpm - correlated with environmental exposure to noises \> 45dB).

Reduction of oxygen saturation alterationThrough study completion, an average of 2 year

Reduction, in the patients enrolled in the intervention group compared to the control group, in episodes of oxygen saturation alteration associated with noises \> 45 dB (nursing diagnosis: risk of desaturation - SpO2 \<90% - correlated with environmental exposure to noises \> 45dB).

Reduction of respiratory rate alterationThrough study completion, an average of 2 year

Reduction, in the patients enrolled in the intervention group compared to the control group, in episodes of respiratory rate alteration associated with noises \> 45 dB (nursing diagnosis: risk of tachypnoea - RR \>60 breaths per minute - correlated with environmental exposure to noises \> 45dB).

Reduction of episodes of apnoeaThrough study completion, an average of 2 year

Reduction, in the patients enrolled in the intervention group compared to the control group, in episodes of apnoea associated with noises \> 45 dB (nursing diagnosis: risk of apnoea - HR \<100 bpm and SpO2 \<90% - correlated with environmental exposure to noises \> 45dB).

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Reduction in Language Development AlterationsFrom enrollment unitl 3 years of age

The study will assess whether there is a reduction in language development issues in the intervention group compared to the control group. This evaluation will be conducted during a follow-up assessment at 3 years of age. The nursing diagnosis being considered is "risk of impaired verbal communication related to hospitalization in the NICU."

Reduction in Hearing Development AlterationsFrom enrollment unitl 3 months of age

The study will also assess whether there is a reduction in hearing development issues in the intervention group compared to the control group. These evaluations will be conducted at a follow-up assessment at 3 months of age and any subsequent audiometric examinations. The nursing diagnosis being considered is "risk of compromised hearing development related to hospitalization in the NICU."

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini

🇮🇹

Genova, Italy

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