Smartphone applications for measuring noise in the intensive care unit: A feasibility study
Authors' conclusion
Smartphone apps and low-cost external microphones can be used reliably to measure the average noise level in the intensive care unit after acoustic calibration.
Study context
- Population
- Noise levels in an ICU
- Comparison
- Smartphone apps with low-cost external microphones vs sound level meter
- Outcome
- Average and maximum noise levels (WHO guidance) measured by apps vs sound level meter
Methodological detailslaboratory test, field test in ICU, acoustic calibration
- Laboratory test
- Field test in ICU
- Acoustic calibration
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Average noise level
Field test, best app–microphone combination: negligible difference in average noise level vs sound level meter
< 2 dB
Further findings
Maximum noise level
- Significant differences between apps and sound level meter
- −0.9 dB to −4.7 dB
Original publication
Smartphone applications for measuring noise in the intensive care unit: A feasibility study. J Crit Care. Published 25 September 2023. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →