Older patients' experiences of sleep in the hospital: Disruptions and remedies

Abstract

Complaints of disruptive sleep are common occurrences during hospitalization of older people, with unpleasant consequences arising when disrupted sleep is left unmanaged. This aim of this study was to explore the perceptions of Chinese older patients on the causes of sleep disturbance, sleeping pattern changes and sleep remedies that could be implemented to improve sleep quality during hospitalization. Sleep diaries and interviews highlighted that a crucial role of nurses is to listen and involve older patients into identifying their own sleep problems and sleep-promoting remedies they consider to work in their favour. Through understanding the sleep problems from patients’ perspectives, nurses can appreciate the significance of disrupted sleep for the person concerned and effectively design needs-based sleep interventions to manage the changing sleep patterns and sleep needs of patients in the clinical area.