Comparing light and noise levels before and after a NICU change of design.

OBJECTIVE: To compare light and sound levels before and after a change of design and evaluate these levels considering recommended NICU standards. STUDY DESIGN: A pre-test/post-test design. Light and sound levels were compared between the former open ward (OW) NICU of 34 beds and the current 40-bed unit composed of both pods and single-family rooms (SFR). RESULT: Light levels were significantly higher in the pod/SFR unit for all levels of care, days of the week and time of the day. These findings could be attributed to the number and configuration of windows in the new pod/SFR unit allowing for more daylight entry compared to the OW. Sound levels were significantly lower in the current NICU (pod/SFR) compared to the former OW. CONCLUSION: Following the change of design, the pod/SFR unit are less noisy than the OW, although light levels are higher indicating the necessity to measure light levels.

Where Sexual Orientation Has No Name: Sexual Orientation Missing Data in the Canadian Community Health Survey (2005-2014).

This study used data from the Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS) (2005-2014) to analyze the relationships between sexual orientation item nonresponse and interview language, conversation language, migration status (migrant-non-migrant), cultural background, sex, age, education level, and marital status in a cross-sectional sample over 18 (n = 351,713 participants). Item nonresponse rates oscillated between 0.87% in 2007 and 1.4% in 2014. Individuals who self-declared as belonging to cultural groups such as Chinese, South Asian, South East Asian, Arab, Indigenous and Other had higher nonresponse odds compared to people who self-identified as Whites. The results showed significant higher nonresponse odds among immigrants. Women had higher nonresponse rates. The likelihood of non-answer increased with age and decreased with education. French interviews, interviews in other languages and speaking both English and French produced less nonresponse. Contrary to common beliefs, sexual orientation questions are not too controversial. Sexual orientation nonresponse is low and stable over time suggesting that research participants are willing to answer sexual orientation questions. These findings highlight that immigrants and people who self-declare as belonging to different cultural groups may interpret the sexual orientation questions differently.