Date Presented 03/27/20
The study examined what factors contribute to normal and negative sleeping patterns during acute-care hospitalization while determining the area of sleep most greatly impacted. Participants completed an online questionnaire focused on the areas of rest, sleep preparation, and sleep participation while in the hospital. The study shows rest as the greatest area of sleep impacted. Identifying interruptions and how they affect the occupation of sleep allows OTs to facilitate changes in this setting.
Primary Author and Speaker: Susan Widener
Additional Authors and Speakers: Melissa Schlosser, Jennifer Hart, Kimberly Wallace, Ian Wallace, Cheryl Jayne
PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to gain understanding of how acute care hospitalization affects the occupation of sleep in individuals during their hospital stay and how occupational therapists can play a role in resolving the issue within the setting. Data will also be collected to identify the strategies individuals have implemented to improve their sleep during their hospital stay. Research questions include:
What factors contribute to normal sleeping patterns?
What factors contribute to negative sleeping patterns in the hospital?
What percentage of patients have trouble sleeping while in the hospital?
What are the strategies individuals are implementing to improve their sleep during a hospital stay?
What can OT and other healthcare professionals do to minimize sleep disturbances?
DESIGN: A qualitative study of students, faculty and staff from the Misericordia University campus who had spent at least one night in an acute care setting. Flyers were dispersed throughout Misericordia University campus alerting individuals to anticipate an email one week later with a link to participate in the survey. An additional email was sent two weeks after the initial email as a reminder to complete the survey.
METHOD: Students, faculty, and employees of Misericordia University were invited to engage in an online questionnaire using Survey Monkey. The data was collected from 112 respondents and questions were designed to address all areas of sleep according to American Occupational Therapy Association Practice Framework (2014) of rest, sleep preparation, and sleep participation. Anonymous survey response were analyzed regarding patient’s perception of their rest, ability to participate in sleep preparation and engage in sleep participation during a regular night at home and while in the hospital. Respondents were hospitalized for a variety of reasons such as childbirth, illness, and injury.
RESULTS: The percentages of those who could not engage in activities associated with the concepts of rest, sleep preparation, and sleep participation while in the hospital were 65%, 45%, and 37% respectively. An inability to engage in activities of rest while hospitalized thus had the greatest impact on sleep quality as compared to sleep at home.
CONCLUSION: The study shows rest as being the greatest area impacted during hospitalization. Respondents who were less able to participate in restful activities during acute care hospitalization reported the most impact on their sleep. Identifying interruptions to restful activities during an acute care stay and how they affect the occupation of sleep allows occupational therapists to facilitate changes that can be utilized during practice in this setting.
References
American Occupational Therapy Association. (2014). Occupational therapy practice framework: Domain and process (3rd ed.). American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 68 (Suppl. 1), S1–S48. https://doi.org/10.5014/ajot.2014.682006
American Occupational Therapy Association. (2013). Occupational therapy in the promotion of health and well-being. The American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 67, S47-S59. doi:10.5014/ajot.2013.67S47
Buxton, O. M., Ellenbogen, J. M., Wang, W., Carballeira, A., O’Connor, S., Cooper, D., . . . Solet, J. M. (2012). Sleep disruption due to hospital noises: A prospective evaluation. Annals of Internal Medicine, 157, 170-179. doi:10.7326/0003-4819-156- 12-201208070-00472
Carskadon, M.A., & Dement, W.C. (2011). Monitoring and staging human sleep. In M.H. Kryger, T. Roth, & W.C. Dement (Eds.), Principles and practice of sleep medicine, 5th edition, (pp. 16-26). St. Louis: Elsevier Saunders.
