Patients’ experiences of sleep in hospital: a qualitative interview study

Abstract

Many patients experience sleep disturbances and a reduced quality of sleep while hospitalized. Studies have shown that a person with a disease and/or a bodily injury has an increased need for sleep. Patients' experiences of sleep should govern how sleep disorders should be managed. It is thus necessary to focus upon and describe patients' needs and experiences. The aim of this study was to explore and describe patients' experiences of sleeping in hospital. The study is based on qualitative semi-structured interviews with ten consecutively included patients. The interviews were conducted between October 2010 and March 2011 and both audio recorded and transcribed verbatim. Collected data were analysed by qualitative content analysis. The participants reported physical and psychological experiences that had affected their sleep. Their experiences were categorised using four themes: Bedside manner, Physical factors, Being involved and Integrity. Patients considered that experiencing some degree of control, feeling involved and preserving one's integrity affect sleep during hospitalization. Several factors have an impact on patients' sleep. It is not only physical factors but also psychological factors such as bedside manner and having the opportunity to influence and be involved. The patients' accounts provide a new perspective and open the door to changes in nursing care regarding patients' sleep.

Nursing care and management of patients’ sleep during hospitalisation: A cross‐sectional study

“…The survey used in the present study was developed and designed by the research group. Based on the stated aim of the study and previous findings (Gellerstedt et al, , ), operationalisation was achieved by formulating four domains: 1. policy documents (e.g., guidelines), 2. care development and education, 3. nursing process and 4. experiences and reflections about sleep and patients’ sleep. Twenty‐two questions and statements were formulated that covered the four domains, and some were followed with the opportunity to comment further on the answers.…”

“…The survey used in the present study was developed and designed by the research group. Based on the stated aim of the study and previous findings (Gellerstedt et al, 2015(Gellerstedt et al, , 2014, operationalisation was achieved by formulating four domains: 1. policy documents (e.g., guidelines), 2. care development and education, 3. nursing process and 4. experiences and reflections about sleep and patients' sleep.…”

“…Several studies show that patients’ sleep is disturbed during hospitalisation and that most patients experience impaired sleep quality. Patients’ sleep is considered to be disturbed in terms of duration, quality and fragmentation (Gellerstedt, Medin, & Rydell Karlsson, ; Lane & East, ; Lee, Low, & Twinn, ; Wesselius et al, ).…”

“…Patients' sleep is considered to be disturbed in terms of duration, quality and fragmentation (Gellerstedt, Medin, & Rydell Karlsson, 2014;Lane & East, 2008;Lee, Low, & Twinn, 2007;Wesselius et al, 2018).…”

“…The results indicate that patients' sleep is an underprioritised and overlooked topic. Numerous studies have shown that disturbed and insufficient sleep during hospitalisation is a stressor for many patients, who consider the issue a challenge affecting their well-being(Dogan, Ertekin, & Dogan, 2005;Gellerstedt et al, 2014;Hultman, Coakley, Annese, & Bouvier, 2012;Lane & East, 2008).…”