Safety Recommendations Research Articles

Work Accident Reduction Strategies With Job Safety Analysis at the Gum Rosin and Turpentine Factory

The production methods at the Gum Rosin and Turpentine XYZ Factory involve several types of machinery and chemicals that might result in workplace accidents. Although the most recent Job Safety Analysis (JSA) was completed in 2018, various changes in work responsibilities have resulted in complaints from melting station workers in the case of eye irritation caused by turpentine vapor exposure and PGT waste workers as having the possibility of splashes from industrial waste. The purpose of this research is to assemble the most recent JSA document to eliminate potential dangers. This research was organized into four parts. The first stage involves conducting firsthand observations to describe the workers' responsibilities at each station. The second step includes interviewing the HSE staff and supervisors to determine the possible dangers of each operation. The third stage involves consulting with the HSE supervisor to decide on precautions to minimize possible dangers. The fourth stage consists of collecting JSA papers for each station. A total of 18 job descriptions with four categories of hazards were discovered based on the assembled JSA, including physical, chemical, mechanical, and ergonomic risks. Workplace safety recommendations here include the placement of safety signs, the installation of guardrails for waste tanks, and the application of personal protective equipment.

POINT: Should New Drug Development in Heart Failure Focus on Patients Discharged From an Acute Heart Failure Admission? Lessons From Recent Studies

POINT: Should New Drug Development in Heart Failure Focus on Patients Discharged From an Acute Heart Failure Admission? Lessons From Recent Studies

Firearm-Related Risks and Consequences for Immigrant Women in Abusive Relationships: Barriers to Reporting Threats to Safety and Recommendations for Safety Planning

ABSTRACT Firearms are the leading cause of intimate partner violence-related murders of women in the US. This study aimed to understand differing consequences of partners’ firearm possession on abused women and barriers women face in reporting threats to safety due to the partners’ possession of a firearm. Additionally, the study explored participants’ perceptions of effective approaches to risk assessments and safety planning with women who are at-risk for being harmed by their partners’ possession of a firearm. Qualitative semi-structured interviews with 17 service providers and 45 immigrant women survivors of intimate partner violence were conducted. Data were analyzed using a content analysis procedure. Participants shared that the partners’ possession of a firearm can increase risk for firearm-related injury or fatality in situations of escalation of violence. Abused women living with a partner with firearm possession live in constant fear or threat. The presence of a firearm can also be a trigger of unwanted memories of the past and can have legal and other consequences for survivors. Impediments to reporting threats to safety were barriers such as lack of knowledge of firearm-related risks and gender and social norms. The findings can be informative for safety planning with survivors of IPV whose partners own or have access to a firearm. Comprehensive assessment of risks and barriers can be used to develop individualized and tailored safety plans for survivors with a partner who possesses a firearm.

Evaluating the relationship of empathic concern to college students’ responses to the COVID-19 pandemic

Objective: Empathic concern (EC) for others may be related to COVID-19 pandemic responses. Participants and methods: The purpose of this survey study was to examine differences in pandemic responses in 1,778 college students rated as low (LE) versus high (HE) on the EC subscale of the Interpersonal Reactivity Index. Results: HE participants reported greater concerns in numerous pandemic-related domains, including acquiring COVID-19; access to COVID-19 treatment; number of COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations, and deaths reported; staying employed; and being isolated for long periods of time. Generalized anxiety symptoms, depressive symptoms, and perceived stress scores were significantly higher for individuals in the HE group compared to the LE group. The HE group reported being significantly more adherent to health and safety recommendations than the LE group. Conclusions: Empathic concern for others is important for promoting college student prosocial behavior but is associated with anxiety and depression symptomatology during times of traumatic stress.

Water consumption patterns impact hydration markers in males working in accordance with the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health recommendations

The impact of water consumption bolus volume and frequency on hydration biomarkers during work in the heat is unknown. In a randomized, crossover fashion, eight males consumed either 500 mL of water every 40 min or 237 mL of water every 20 min during 2 hr of continuous walking at 6.4 kph, 1.0% grade in a 34 °C/30% relative humidity environment, followed by 2 hr of rest. Hydration biomarkers and variables were assessed pre-work, post-work, and after the 2 hr recovery. There were no differences in body mass between trials at any time point (all p > 0.05). Percent change in plasma volume during work was not different when 237 mL of water was repeatedly consumed (−1.6 ± 8.2%) compared to 500 mL of water (−1.3 ± 3.0%, p = 0.92). Plasma osmolality was maintained over time (p = 0.55) with no difference between treatments (p = 0.21). When consuming 500 mL of water repeatedly, urine osmolality was lower at recovery (205 ± 108 mOsmo/L) compared to pre-work (589 ± 95 mOsmo/L, p < 0.01), different from repeatedly consuming 237 mL of water which maintained urine osmolality from pre-work (548 ± 144 mOsmo/L) through recovery (364 ± 261 mOsmo/L, p = 0.14). Free water clearance at recovery was greater with repeated consumption of 500 mL of water (1.2 ± 1.0 mL/min) compared to 237 mL of water (0.4 ± 0.8 mL/min, p = 0.02). Urine volume was not different between treatments post-work (p = 0.62), but greater after 2 hr of recovery when repeatedly consuming 500 mL of water compared to 237 mL (p = 0.01), leading to greater hydration efficiency upon recovery with repeated consumption of 237 mL of water (68 ± 12%) compared to 500 mL (63 ± 14%, p = 0.01). Thirst and total gastrointestinal symptom scores were not different between treatments at any time point (all p > 0.05). Body temperatures and heart rate were not different between treatments at any time point (all p > 0.05). Drinking larger, less frequent water boluses or drinking smaller, more frequent water boluses are both reasonable strategies to promote adequate hydration and limit changes in body mass in males completing heavy-intensity work in the heat.

Adverse Events of Light-Assisted Hair Removal: An Updated Review.

With light-assisted hair removal becoming widely used, reports of adverse effects are increasing. To review all the reported optical incidents and cutaneous complications of laser or intense pulse light-assisted hair removal. A PubMed database systematic search was performed to identify studies reporting such adverse events before July 2022 using the Mesh terms "adverse effects" AND "hair removal" AND ("laser" OR "intense pulse light"). Altogether, 358 references were identified. After excluding duplicates, unrelated articles, guidelines, and conference abstracts, then adding references from studies bibliography, 104 publications were included. Ocular incidents consisted of anterior uveitis, iritis and iris atrophy, pupillary distortion, posterior synechiae, anterior chamber pigment, and cataracts in the anterior subcapsular region. Cutaneous complications consisted of pain, burns, folliculitis, leukotrichia, paradoxical hypertrichosis, pigmentary changes, changes in nevi, pili bigemini, herpes infection, hyperhidrosis, bromhidrosis, Fox-Fordyce disease, and frostbite from the cooling system. They were mostly correlated to skin type and body area as well as to light device and set parameters. Intense pulse light devices were found to be less painful than alexandrite laser, yet more painful than diode laser; Nd:YAG laser had the highest pain score. Optical incidents can be systematically avoided. Cutaneous complications are usually related to professional errors and patient characteristics. Better knowledge of laser physics and adequate training of laser operators are key recommendations to avoid undesirable side effects. Safety recommendations help prevent most of the reported complications.

RF Health Safety Limits and Recommendations [Health Matters

The rapid proliferation of cellular mobile telecommunication devices and systems is raising public health concerns about the biological effects and safety of RF radiation exposure. There is also concern about the efficacy of promulgated health safety limits, rules, and recommendations for the RF radiation used by these devices and systems. This article reviews and discusses the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) notices and rules, International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) guidelines, and International Committee on Electromagnetic Safety (ICES) standard for safety levels with respect to human exposure to electric, magnetic, and electromagnetic fields (EMFs). The recently revised RF exposure limits are adjusted only for heating with RF radiation. These limits are largely intended to restrict short-term heating by RF radiation that raises tissue temperatures. They are narrow in scope and are not applicable to long-term exposure at low levels. This review discusses the assumptions underlying the standards and the outdated exposure metrics employed, and concludes that the revised guidelines do not adequately protect children, workers, or the public from exposure to RF radiation or people with sensitivity to electromagnetic radiation from wireless devices and systems. Furthermore, the review discusses important animal data that the standards do not appear to take into account. Moreover, for millimeter-wave radiation from 5G mobile communications, there are no adequate human health effects studies in the published literature. The conclusions by scientific organizations, such as the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), that diverge from these standards are also discussed. The review concludes that many of the recommended limits are debatable and require more scientific justification from the standpoint of safety and public health protection.

Prescription medications with actionable pharmacogenomic recommendations in Veterans Health Administration patients.

Aim: To evaluate the prevalence of medications with actionable pharmacogenomic (PGx) safety and efficacy recommendations inpatientsreceiving care from the Veterans Health Administration. Materials & methods: Outpatient prescription data from 2011 to 2021 and any documented adverse drug reactions (ADRs) were reviewed for those who received PGx testing at one Veterans Administration location between November 2019 and October 2021. Results: Among the reviewed prescriptions, 381 (32.8%) were associated with an actionable recommendation based on the Clinical Pharmacogenetics Implementation Consortium (CPIC) prescribing guidelines, with 205 (17.7%) for efficacy concerns and 176 (15.2%) for safety concerns. Among those with a documented ADR for a PGx-impacted medication, 39.1% had PGx results that aligned with CPIC recommendations. Conclusion: Medications with actionable PGx recommendations for safety and efficacy concerns are received with similar frequency, and most patients who have undergone PGx testing at the Phoenix Veterans Administration have received medications that may be impacted by PGx testing.

Operational Concepts for Urban Air Mobility deployment in the next decades

Urban Air Mobility development and deployment into future cities is gaining increasing and relevant interest in the last years, as a new mobility form suitable to meet the future greener, scalable and efficient mobility targets needed to solve the issues today’s big cities are facing in terms of traffic congestion as well as related environmental consequences. In this framework, the ASSURED UAM (Acceptance, Safety and Sustainability Recommendations for Efficient Deployment of UAM) project has been funded by H2020 and is ongoing, with the main objective of providing cities with knowledge concerning deployment of UAM services and definition of necessary standards and recommendations assuring common acceptance, safety and sustainability within integrated metropolitan transport system for three time horizons (2025, 2030 and 2035). In the project, dedicated activities have been carried out to develop operational concepts for Urban Air Mobility (UAM) deployment in the next decades. The main results from these activities are presented in this paper, which namely includes the main project outcomes in terms of: the identification of the most relevant and promising technologies that can enable the UAM implementation over the next decades, taking into account the current technological trends and perspectives; the outline of the regulatory framework in which the UAM will be shaped in the next decades; the definition of the most relevant aspects and constraints affecting the UAM deployment from the point of view of integration of such new mobility form in the cities infrastructures; the outline of the foreseen UAM concept of operations and definition of the most relevant use case that are expected to be implemented in the cities over the three time horizons considered in the project, i.e. 2025, 2030 and 2035.

Feasibility of mobilisation in ICU: a multi-centre point prevalence study of mobility practices in the UK

BackgroundEarly mobilisation in critical care is recommended within clinical guidance; however, mobilisation prevalence across the UK is unknown. The study aimed to determine the proportion of patients mobilised out of bed within 48–72 h, to describe their physiological status, and to compare this to published consensus safety recommendations for out-of-bed activity.MethodsA UK cross-sectional, multi-centre, observational study of adult critical care mobility practices was conducted. Demographic, physiological and organ support data, mobility level, and rationale for not mobilising out of bed, were collected for all patients on 3rd March 2022. Patients were categorised as: Group 1—mobilised ICU Mobility Scale (IMS) ≥ 3; Group 2—not-mobilised IMS < 3 with physiological reasons; or Group 3—not-mobilised IMS < 3 with non-physiological barriers to mobilisation. Rationale for the decision to not mobilise was collected qualitatively. Regression analysis was used to compare the physiological parameters of Group 1 (mobilised) versus Group 2 (not-mobilised with physiological reasons). Patients were stratified as ‘low-risk’, ‘potential-risk’ or ‘high-risk’ using published risk of adverse event ratings.ResultsData were collected for 960 patients across 84 UK critical care units. Of these 393 (41%) mobilised, 416 (43%) were not-mobilised due to physiological reasons and 151 (16%) were not mobilised with non-physiological reasons. A total of 371 patients had been admitted for ≤ 3 days, of whom 180 (48%) were mobilised, 140 (38%) were not mobilised with physiological reasons, and 51 (14%) were not mobilised with non-physiological reasons. Of the 809 without non-physiological barriers to mobilisation, 367 (45%) had a low risk of adverse event rating and 120 (15%) a potential risk, of whom 309 (84%) and 78 (65%) mobilised, respectively. Mobility was associated with a Richmond Agitation-Sedation Scale of − 1 to + 1, lower doses of vasoactive agents, a lower inspired oxygen requirement.ConclusionAlthough only 40% of patients mobilised out of bed, 89% of those defined ‘low-risk’ did so. There is significant overlap in physiological parameters for mobilisation versus non-mobilisation groups, suggesting a comprehensive physiological assessment is vital in decision making rather than relying on arbitrary time points.Clinical Trials registration: NCT05281705 Registered March 16, 2022. Retrospectively registered.

Impact of Probiotics on the Prevention and Treatment of Gastrointestinal Diseases in the Pediatric Population.

Despite the high prevalence of gastrointestinal disorders (GIDs) in infants and children, especially those categorized as functional GIDs (FGIDs), insufficient knowledge about their pathophysiology has limited both symptomatic diagnosis and the development of optimal therapies. Recent advances in the field of probiotics have made their potential use as an interesting therapeutic and preventive strategy against these disorders possible, but further efforts are still needed. In fact, there is great controversy surrounding this topic, generated by the high variety of potential probiotics strains with plausible therapeutic utility, the lack of consensus in their use as well as the few comparative studies available on probiotics that record their efficacy. Taking into account these limitations, and in the absence of clear guidelines about the dose and timeframe for successful probiotic therapy, our review aimed to evaluate current studies on potential use of probiotics for the prevention and treatment of the most common FGIDs and GIDs in the pediatric population. Furthermore, matters referring to know major action pathways and key safety recommendations for probiotic administration proposed by major pediatric health agencies shall also be discussed.

O167 A decade of NHS never events – has formal reporting made a difference?

Abstract Introduction NHS England defines “Never Events” (NE) as 'patient safety incidents that are wholly preventable where guidance or safety recommendations that provide strong systemic protective barriers are available at a national level and have been implemented by healthcare providers’. NHS Organisations were required to publish NE data from April 2012. This project aims to identify changes in NE patterns to help inform training. Methods Published data between April 2012 and March 2022 was collected from NHS England. Data processing and manipulation was carried out using Microsoft Excel. Results A total of n=4,055 NE and n=175,920,530 procedures were reported. During the 2020-2021 year there were significantly less (p=0.029) NE compared to 2019-2020, however the rate of NE per million procedures (25 vs 27) remained unchanged p=0.18. Overall, there appears to be an increasing trend in NE, p&amp;lt;0.001. The majority of NE related to wrong site surgery, n=1,628(40%), retained foreign objects, n=1,090(27%) and wrong implant/prosthesis, n=506(12%), p&amp;lt;0.001. Within wrong site surgery, the most common NE was wrong procedure, n=529(32%), followed by laterality errors, n=391(24%), p&amp;lt;0.001. Conclusion The results demonstrate that despite systemic protective barriers such as the WHO Checklist, overall rate of NE has not reduced. This is likely to be confounded by changes in reporting as well as definitions, for example from April 2021 wrong tooth extraction was not considered a NE. The importance of Human Factors must not be overlooked, and NHS Trusts should consider formal provision of such training for all those in clinical roles.

Investigation of Virulence and Antibiotic-Resistance of Bacillus cereus Isolated from Various Spices.

Spices and herbs are potential vectors for virulent and pathogenic micro-organisms, which cause illness in consumers, contribute to spoilage, and reduce the durability of foodstuffs. The present study aims to provide relevant data about virulence and antibiotic resistance of Bacillus cereus isolated from various spices. A total of 200 samples of 8 types of spices (black pepper, chilli, white pepper, cumin, cinnamon, turmeric, curry powder, and sumac) were collected from various markets, retail shops, and sucuk production premises located in the Isfahan province of Iran. Presumptive B. cereus strains were obtained using Bacara Agar plates after enrichment in saline peptone water and final colonies were identified using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry. Enterotoxin (HBL) and nonhaemolytic enterotoxin (NHE) production were assessed using the Duopath® Cereus Enterotoxins Test kit. The Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method was applied as antibiotics susceptibility test. PCR was used to detect Emetic toxin gene (CES and CER) and enterotoxigenic toxin gene (cytK, nheA, hblC, and entFM). Results show a significant prevalence of B. cereus (42%) in spices. However, the spices meet food safety recommendations (<104 cfu/g). Antibiotics susceptibility test show alarming rate of resistance to beta-lactam antibiotics specially ampicillin (83.33%) and penicillin (82.14%). Concerning the toxin producing capacity more than half of the isolates (51.19%) produce NHE toxin and 27.38% produce HBL toxin. The most abundant gene were nheA, nheB, and nheC and a combination of 4 genes (entFM, nheA, hblC, and cytK) was detected in many isolates. In conclusion, the presence of multidrug resistant B. cereus strains carrying diarrhoeal toxin-encoding genes in spices intended for human consumption represents a serious health hazard. These results indicate the need for regular surveillance of the occurrence of B. cereus strains in spices and food products in Iran.

A Conversation with Rose Hoban, Executive Editor of North Carolina Health News.

The recent pandemic highlighted a critical lack of trust in health information and the need for better ways to communicate health and safety news and recommendations to the general public. Rose Hoban, executive editor of the nonprofit online publication North Carolina Health News, discusses her experience and recommendations.

Natural additives as active components in edible films and coatings

The incorporation of natural active components into edible films and coatings adds value to them by modifying the film characteristics in terms of physical, functional as well as bioactive properties. Till date, a wide variety of natural additives (glucosides, polysaccharides, phytosterols, phenolic acids, esters, carotenoids, tannins, alkaloids, anthocyanins, flavonoids, terpenoids, caffeic acid, other organic acids) have been used which are extracted from plants, herbs, spices, seeds, fruits, vegetables etc. The additives developed using active components from natural sources have overcome the adverse effects caused by synthetic additives on human health. These active coatings minimize the surface proliferation of pathogenic microorganisms and prevent food deterioration. The biopolymeric base of edible films/coatings incorporated with the natural active component can be formed of chitosan, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, sodium benzoate, gelatin, pectin etc. From an economical perspective, the recent trend has also shifted towards the utilization of biowaste and bio residues obtained from the food industry for the extraction of natural active components and their application which will help in meeting the increased demand for healthy foods, well-being, achieving sustainable development goal of zero hunger as well as aid in cutting down the high cost. Thus, more research is required in the exploration, extraction and successful utilization of natural active components in edible films/coatings which will prove to be beneficial for researchers, industrialists and consumers. This review encompasses several aspects related to different types of active components used as natural additives, the interaction of additives with films/coatings, their pharmacological properties, extraction techniques, safety recommendations and applications.

Recommendations for Occupational Safety and Health (K3) as a Means in Increasing Employee Performance Productivity

Occupational Health and Safety (K3) is an important aspect in an industrial environment that aims to protect employees from various risks and hazards that may occur during the production process. This study aims to analyze the role of OSH in increasing productivity and quality of work in various industrial sectors. Regulation of the Minister of Manpower No. 4 of 1987 confirms that every agency that employs employees with a number of over 100 people or more is obliged to pay attention to the occupational safety and health of its employees, but unfortunately Not all agencies apply K3 to these agencies. Working with a healthy, safe and comfortable body and environment is what all workers want. The physical environment of the workplace and organizational environment are very important in influencing the social, mental and physical life of workers. The health of a workplace environment can have a positive influence on worker health, such as increasing worker morale, reducing absenteeism and increasing productivity. On the other hand, an unhealthy or unhealthy workplace (often exposed to hazardous substances/items affecting health/occupational safety) can increase the number of unhealthy and even accidents, lower the quality of workers' health, increase health costs and many other negative impacts. This study uses a qualitative approach by collecting data from various sources, including literature studies and interviews with industry practitioners who are experienced in OSH implementation. The results showed that OSH has a significant role in increasing employee productivity by reducing absenteeism due to work-related accidents and diseases. In addition, the implementation of an effective OSH program can reduce the number of work accidents and potential injuries, which ultimately improves work quality and operational efficiency. This study concludes that OSH is not only the responsibility of the company, but also the community and government must be involved in ensuring a safe and healthy work environment. With the implementation of OSH management, it is hoped that healthy workers will make productive workers, which is very important for the success of company and agency businesses and national development.

ABOUT VARIABLES THAT AFFECT THE PROPER OPERATION OF ANESTHETIC MACHINE

The number of patients having surgery grew by 13.93% between 2017 and 2018, from 4,867 to 6,444, according to the hospitals polled. Therefore, there is an increased risk of equipment damage occurring during operation as a result of adjustments and management. Consequently, the purpose of this study was to examine the safety of anesthetic equipment, the contributing variables to that safety, and accident prevention strategies. The research indicates that there are 51 devices spread throughout 8 locations, including 12 devices at the First Central Hospital of Mongolia, 3 devices at Intermed, and 3 devices at Gurvan Gal and the Second State Central Hospital, respectively. At the hospitals surveyed, 40–50% of the most frequent breakdowns were caused by sensor malfunctions. At these institutions, 15–35% of the operational equipment was out-of-date, and only 45% of spare parts were replaced on a regular basis within the allotted time. Therefore, it is essential to ensure the availability of spare parts for frequently damaged parts, prompt replacement of spare parts, increase the number of engineers and technicians, uninstall any equipment that is outdated or that has been in use for more than eight years, or check it daily with an analyzer for safety and specialists must adhere attentively to the safety recommendations.

Preventable morbidities of a successful intervention, Textiloma/Gossypiboma: A case series.

Preventable morbidities are serious conditions that have the potential to cause serious harm or death of the patient. One of the preventable morbidities is Gossypiboma or involuntary leaving of surgical sponge inside the body. The implication for the patient and the surgeon is grave. Gossypiboma is preventable if guidance and safety recommendations are followed. The purpose of presenting this case series is to rekindle awareness of the phenomena of Gossypiboma, highlight the implications, and stress prevention. Data of patients presented in the Lahore General Hospital was collected, which includes their demographic, clinical features, and management outcome. Their age, gender, surgery conducted, onset of symptoms, and salvage procedure were noted. Five cases are included in this case series from which it was concluded that Gossypiboma is encountered most commonly after intra-abdominal operation. Women are at increased risk during obstetric and gynaecological operations, though both genders are affected.

Bioaccumulation and Health Risk Assessment of Nickel Uptake by Five Wild Edible Saprotrophic Mushroom Species Collected from Croatia

The current study investigates the bioaccumulation potential of the heavy metal nickel (Ni) in five edible saprotrophic mushroom species (Agaricus campestris L., Armillaria mellea (Vahl) P.Kumm., Clitocybe inversa (Sowerby) Vizzini, Clitocybe nebularis (Batsch), P.Kumm., and Macrolepiota procera (Scop.) Singer) collected from seven forest locations (Trakoscan, Medvednica, Petrova gora, Skrad, Krk, Labinstina, and Motovun) of Croatia. For this purpose, forest soil and mushroom samples (cap and stipe) were collected from January to December 2021 and analyzed using inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES). The results showed that all soil samples showed an occurrence of Ni, ranging from 1.62 to 3.55 mg/Kg. On the other hand, the cap parts of all five mushroom species showed a higher Ni content as compared to those in the stipe parts. Overall, there is a substantial positive association between soil Ni availability and the mean Ni concentration (mg/Kg) in the cap and stipe parts of A. campestris (3.08 and 2.22), A. mellea (2.59 and 1.55), C. inversa (2.38 and 1.75), C. nebularis (2.56 and 1.91), and M. procera (2.94 and 1.94). Multivariate analyses using principal component analysis (PCA) and hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) showed that the Skrad and Petrova gora locations had the highest Ni contents in the selected mushroom species. Moreover, the estimated daily intake of Ni from consuming these mushrooms was below the threshold limits as suggested by dietary intake modeling (DIM) and health risk index (HRI) values. Therefore, this study emphasizes the importance of examining the Ni bioaccumulation potential of wild edible mushrooms, as well as the health hazards associated with their consumption, which are useful for food safety rules and recommendations.

The impact of sound stimulations during pregnancy on fetal learning: a systematic review

BackgroundThe developing nervous system in utero is exposed to various stimuli with effects that may be carried forward to the neonatal period. This study aims to investigate the effects of sound stimulation (music and speech) on fetal memory and learning, which was assessed later in neonatal period.MethodsThe MEDLINE (pubmed), Scopus, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library were searched. Two reviewers selected the studies and extracted the data independently. The quality of eligible studies was assessed using The Joanna Briggs Institute Critical Appraisal Checklist for Randomized Controlled Trials (RCTs).ResultsOverall 3930 articles were retrieved and eight studies met the inclusion criteria. All of the included studies had good general quality; however, high risk of selection and detection bias was detected in most of them. Fetal learning was examined through neonatal electrocardiography (ECG), electroencephalography (EEG), habituation tests, and behavioral responses. Seven studies showed that the infants had learned the fetal sound stimulus and one study indicated that the prenatally stimulated infants performed significantly better on a neonatal behavior test. There was considerable diversity among studies in terms of sound stimulation type, characteristics (intensity and frequency), and duration, as well as outcome assessment methods.ConclusionsPrenatal sound stimulation including music and speech can form stimulus-specific memory traces during fetal period and effect neonatal neural system. Further studies with precisely designed methodologies that follow safety recommendations, are needed.Graphical