1. ACOUSTICAL INCUBATOR COVERS (AIC): REDUCING HIGH FREQUENCY SOUND Barbara Kellam, PhD, RN, (East Carolina University College of Nursing); Jennifer Waller, PhD (Medical College of Georgia Department of Biostatistics); Sheila Bunting, PhD, RN, (Medical College of Georgia School of Nursing); Jatinder Bhatia, MD, (Medical College of Georgia Department of Pediatrics) Research Aims The purposes were to determine if using acoustical foam as the core of an incubator cover would significantly reduce sound frequency ≥ 1 kHz and to describe weight gain between the two groups of preterm infants.  A variety of materials have been used to drape over incubators with inconsistent findings 1-3.  To date, only one study has reported the effect of acoustical foam on sound frequencies within incubators 4. Review of Literature This two-group repeated measures design required seven measurements of sound spectra within each subject’s incubator.  At 1 kHz and 2 kHz, sound decibels were significantly lower for the treatment group than the control group. Other octaves were not statistically different.  Daily weight gain indicated no statistically significant differences between the two groups. However, there was an average 2.2 gm/day increase in weight for subjects in the treatment group. Conclusions  The AIC significantly reduced sound at 1 and 2 kHz.  Although not statistically significant, subjects in the AIC group had an average daily weight gain of 2.2 grams more than subjects in the control group.  The weight gain finding warrants further research. References: 1. Saunders, A.N. 1995. Incubator noise: A method to decrease decibels. Pediatric Nursing, 21, 265-268. 2. Johnson, A. N. 2001. Neonatal response to control of noise inside the incubator. Pediatric Nursing, 27, 600-605. 3. Blatz, S. 2002. Experimental study of incubator covers in the neonatal ICU: Testing of a mid-range theory for newborn infants (Doctoral dissertation, Wayne State University, Detroit Michigan, 2001). UMI Number 3037048. 4. Kellam, B. & Bhatia, J. (2008). Sound spectral analysis in the Intensive Care Nursery: Measuring High-Frequency Sound. Journal of Pediatric Nursing, 23, 317-323. Acknowledgements: This research study was supported by the Beta Omicron Chapter of Sigma Theta Tau and the Center for Nursing Research at the Medical College of Georgia.  33 preterm infants with birth weight < 1800 grams (M = 1000 grams, S.D. =292 grams).  Gestational age ranged from 23 weeks to 36 weeks (M = 28 weeks, S.D. =2.5 weeks).  33 subjects were randomly assigned to the treatment (AIC) or the control group (hospital blanket). SSA was used to collect 231 hours of data.  Repeated measures ANCOVA using mixed models examined differences between groups for frequencies 16 – 8 kHz and for daily weight gain. Covariates included incubator model and respiratory therapy mode. MethodsLimitationsSample Results  There were two major confounding variables in this study. Three different incubator models were used for patient care.  Secondly, four different modes of respiratory therapy were employed among 33 subjects. Research Design