PATIENT AND PARENT SLEEP IN A CHILDERN’S HOSPITAL

PATIENT AND PARENT SLEEP IN A CHILDERN’S HOSPITAL

Oleh : Candra Pengestu Aji

Although sleep complaints during pediatric hospitalization are common, few studies have examined different aspects of sleep or the impact of pediatric hospitalization  on parent sleep.   Sleep was significantly disrupted during hospitalization, more so for younger children and parents. Sleep disturbances due to noises, worries, pain, and vital sign checks were related to longer sleep onset latency, increased night wakings, and earlier wake time. Interventions that reduce these disruptions, many of which are amenable to nursing influence, are needed to improve child and parent sleep in hospital. Sleep Disruptions in Hospital Three types of sleep disruptors were examined: noises, worries/discomfort, and hospital specific variables (pain, vital sign checks).

Study Objectives : The goal of this study was to capture multiple aspects of sleep for patients and parents during a night in a children’s hospital. The first aim was to examine whether the previous night of sleep in the hospital differed. The second aim of the study was to examine the differences in sleep continuity variables for patients and parents who experienced sleep disruptions in the hospital. Although sleep was found to differ between adults hospitalized for medical and surgical reasons (Tranmer, Minard, Fox, & Rebelo, 2003),

Methods            : Participants were drawn from a large (over 400 inpatient beds), tertiary care children’s hospital in the mid- Atlantic region of the United States. Families were eligible to participate if the child/adolescent was 1) 8 to 21 years of age (inclusive), 2) had been admitted to the hospital no later than 4:00 p.m. the previous day (ensuring at least 24 hours of hospitalization), 3) did not have surgery in the previous 24 hours, and 4) did not have sedation for a medical procedure (such as an MRI) in the previous 24 hours. Parents of patients were eligible to participate if 1) their child met the above criteria, and 2) the parent had stayed with the child the previous night (roomed-in).

Conclusion         : Nurses are well positioned to influence many of the sleep disruptors identified in this study through small changes in practice and advocacy for the patient and family. In addition,identifying families who are experiencing sleep disruptions due to worries and working with the psychosocial team may result in significant reductions in common sleep disruptors at little to no cost in time or money. Overall, this study demonstrates the need for additional research examining the causes and consequences of disrupted sleep for patients and parents in a children’s hospital. Sleep plays an important role in the health and well-being of patients and their parents. For patients, sufficient good quality sleep contributes to the healing and immune process. For parents, sufficient good quality sleep contributes to the ability to make important medical decisions and provide emotional support for their child.