The Sound of Comfort: Neonatal Health Care Professionals' Perspectives on Music and Other Comfort Measures during Targeted Neonatal Echocardiography

This study aimed to assess health care professionals' perspectives on how implemented measures impact patient comfort during targeted neonatal echocardiography (TNE).Survey distributed to neonatal health care professionals at the Montreal Children's Hospital neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Responses were collected for 4 weeks, anonymized, and analyzed using descriptive statistics.Of 110 respondents, most believed that scans in general disturbed infants (71%) by increasing the risk of hypothermia (75%), and lability (67%). Key comfort measures identified were warm gel (85%), bundling (80%), and a focused exam (<30 minutes; 80%). Neoclassical music recordings were valued for their calming effect on the infant (73%), parent (44%), and sonographer (39%). Respondents preferred recorded music over other forms of music delivery (53%).Health care workers generally agree that scans disturb newborns and that implementing comfort measures, such as music and the cost-efficient bundle used in our NICU, may enhance patient comfort. Further objective studies are needed to validate these findings and assess their impact on neonatal care outcomes · NICU staff surveyed on TNE comfort measures.. · Music may calm babies, parents, and workers.. · Warm gel, bundling, and focused exam highly valued.. · Care bundle is cheap and easily implementable..