Factors Affecting Sleep Disturbances among Patients in Critical Care Units

Abstract

Sleep is considered to be an essential biological function to maintain physiological and emotional wellbeing. However, sleep in the intensive care unit (ICU) has been reported poor quality and a major stressor associated with their admission caused by environmental and non environmental factors. Aim of study: to assess the factors affecting sleep disturbances among patients in critical care units. Research design: A descriptive exploratory design was applied in this study. Setting: The study was conducted at critical care units at ELdermerdash hospital one of the Ain Shams University Hospitals. Subjects: A purposive sample of 70 patients were included in the study. Tools: two tools were used for data collection; interviewing questionnaire sheet, Groningen's sleep quality Scale. Results: the study showed a highly statistically significance correlation between the quality of sleep pattern before and after hospitalization. Presence of noise, light, strange and bad odors, having pain, fears and a loud voice produced by the ICU personnel had the most significant negative impact on patients’ sleep. Conclusion: poor sleep quality and disruptions are common problems among patients in critical care units. These problems are related to many factors as factors related to the patients such as pain and difficult breathing and critical care environment such as noise and lights. Recommendation: Create a suitable ICU environment that should decrease noises and lights and maintain suitable temperature during night time hours to promote sleep. Minimize staff conversation and minimize the duration of day time napping