Patients' perceptions of factors influencing their sleep pattern in hospital

Abstract

It is evident from the available literature that patients do not sleep adequately in hospital (Hilton 1973, Dodds 1980, Ogilvie 1980, Mcintosh 1989, Hill 1989). A combination of quantitative and qualitative data was collected to examine patients' perceptions of factors influencing their sleep patterns in hospital at night. This small scale study was undertaken in St. Luke's hospital and included adult patients from two general medical wards. From interviews with ten patients, it was established that the majority of patients experienced disturbance to their "normal" sleep patterns whilst in hospital. Factors affecting patients' sleep in hospital were identified in which noise was the most commonly reported cause of night-time sleep disturbance. The majority of patients felt that their need for sleep increased during illness and sleep loss appeared to cause some patients distress. They reported, in particular, tiredness and headaches as results of a "poor night". Moreover it was found that the majority of patients had very little contact with the nursing staff at night. Suggestions are made for the improvement of patients' night-time care in hospital.