Lighting level in Neonatal Units according to environment and furniture management

Abstract

Objective

To identify the lighting levels in neonatal intensive care units that perform environment management or not according to types of furniture, and indicate which condition promotes the best environment for the newborn in terms of lighting.

Methods

Cross-sectional, descriptive, correlational study. The sample was composed by measuring the illuminance inside an incubator, an incubator with protection from light and an acrylic crib positioned according to proximity of natural light. Measurements with a luxmeter took place every 60 seconds for 24 uninterrupted hours per position in two neonatal intensive care units lit by natural light and artificial incandescent light, one where environment management is not performed (Institution A) and the other where environment management is performed for one-hour periods, four times a day (Institution B). The Mann Whitney, Friedman and Nemenyi tests were used for data analysis.

Results

The lighting levels showed great variation according to the period of the day and type of furniture (min=0; max=889 lux), and were higher in acrylic cribs. Positions far from the natural light source did not provide lower light levels. Protection over the incubators provided less exposure to light. The mean illuminance values in all positions considered in institution A were significantly higher compared to institution B, demonstrating the effectiveness of the environment management practice (p<0.05).

Conclusion

The combination of the use of dark protection over the incubator and environment management practices provides the best lighting condition for newborns in neonatal units.

Intensive care units, neonatal; Neonatal nursing; Sleep; Lighting; Environment