Sleep quality and affecting factors in hospitalized patients

Introduction Many studies have proved that the lack of a good quality sleep is ascribable to physiopathological, psicological or ambiental conditions which modify the normal sleep trend, causing consequences on the physical and psychological health of the patient. The aim of the study is to understand the patient’s sleep quality, the disturbing factors and nursing interventions for managing of sleep. Methods A cross-sectional study has been conducted. The quality of sleep of 157 hospitalized patients in two times (at night and in the morning) has been investigated. In the night has been reported the reasons for the calls, the patient’s medical history and nursing activities. In the morning, the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index and a self-designed questionnaire have been used to detect both the sleep quality in hospital and in habitual circumstances and the disturbing factors. Results The patients in hospital reported a poorer sleep quality than usual (PSQI usual sleep 7.7; PSQI hospital sleep 10.2). This sleep quality reduction was correlated to five disturbing factors: the discomfort associated with the disease (p=0.003), the fulfillment of physiological needs (p=0.046), the concern for the disease (p=0.024), the boredom (p=0.010) and the sense of dependence (p=0.038). Conclusions The hospitalized patients have a poorer sleep quality than usual due to factors that can be controlled by nursing actions. The need for sleep appears to be marginally managed by nursing staff, suggesting the need of a greater awareness of this need.