Effectiveness of Slumber Aids on perceived quality of sleep among patients admitted at Sri Narayani Hospital and Research Center, Vellore

G. Lydia

Sri Narayani College of Nursing, Vellore.

*Corresponding Author E-mail: lydia.msc@gmail.com

ABSTRACT:

Environmental factors such as temperature, light, noise, social activities affect the sleep pattern of hospitalized patients. Patients in hospitals have their normal routine sleep and rest disrupted, which causes sleep deprivation. Nursing interventions planned to improve the hospitalized patients’ sleep quality are mainly focused on promotion of health. A quasi-experimental study was conducted to assess the effectiveness of slumber aids on perceived quality of sleep among hospitalized patients. Sixty samples were recruited and randomly allotted to an experimental group and a control group. Slumber aides were applied to the experimental group and no interventions were made in the control group. The experimental group shows a mean difference of 23.36 and the paired ‘t’ value was 32.91 (P<0.001), which is a significantly better perceived quality of sleep than the control group. There was no association between the selected demographic and post- test perceived quality of sleep among experimental and control group variables. Hence, slumber aids are helpful to improve the quality of sleep among hospitalized patients

KEYWORDS: Perceived quality of sleep, Slumber aids, Sleep deprivation, Hospitalized patients, Environmental factors.

INTRODUCTION:

Sleep is one of the fundamental activities of human life, and it affects individuals’ health both physically and mentally¹. In broad, reduced in sleeping time during illness, stress, or change of a sleep environment such as hospitalization can alter the sleep cycle directly.² Hospitalized patients' sleep may not be invigorating because of three reasons; they are environmental, physiological and psychological. There are various causes that can lead to poor sleep quality including physical factors such as disease, disease severity³, and pain⁴, environmental causes like light and sound disturbance, interruptions by health care workers⁵, and psychological factors, including anxiety and stress.

During sleep, a lot of changes in our body take place. for example, sleep decreases respiratory rate, muscle tension, core body temperature and blood pressure, and Increase blood flow to the vital organs. The levels of stress hormones decline and the metabolism slows during sleep and the immune system is activated. Poor quality of sleep and sleep deprivation can decrease internal organ functions which may lead to the immune system deteriorating⁶, rising cardiovascular disease risk⁷, cognitive function impairment, and increased safety risk includes falling and fracture in the elderly⁸.

STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM:

Effectiveness of slumber aids on perceived quality of sleep among patients admitted at Sri Narayani Hospital and Research Centre, Vellore.

OBJECTIVES:

1. To assess the pretestlevels of perceived quality of sleep among experimental and controlgroup.

2. To assess the effectiveness of slumber aids on perceived levels of quality of sleep among experimentalgroup.

3. To find out the association between the post-test levels of perceived quality of sleep and selected demographic variables among experimental group and controlgroup.

HYPOTHESES:

H₁: There is a significant difference between the pretest and post-test levels of perceived quality of sleep among experimentalgroup.

H₂: There is a significantdifferencebetweenthe pretest and post-test levels of perceived quality of sleep among controlgroup

H₃: There is a significant association between post-test levels of perceived quality of sleep among experimental group and selected demographicvariable.

METHODOLOGY:

A quasi-experimental research design was adopted to assess the effectiveness of slumber aids on the perceived quality of sleep among patients admitted to the medical and surgical wards of SNHRC. A total of sixty samples that met the inclusion criteria were selected using a convenient sampling method. Patients in the control group received routine care. However, in the experimental group, patients received slumber aid, i.e., application of an eye pad and ear pluck foe two subsequent nights. Post test was assessed every next morning from both the groups. In both groups, the sleep quality was assessed using the Modified Verran and Snyder-Halpern Sleep Scales. The chi-square test and independent samples t-test were used to analyse the data.

DATA COLLECTION:

All the samples in both groups were read by the researcher, and the subjects' answers were documented in the questionnaire. Moreover, we gathered patients’ demographic and clinical data through their medical records. In the control group, patients received the sleep care routinely provided in the study setting. The routine sleep care included closing the door to reduce environmental noise, decreasing the lighting level, and providing nursing care before bedtime to avoid interruption during sleep. Patients in the experimental group received routine sleep care as well as an eye mask and ear pluck for eight hours from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. for two nights. During this time, the researcher checked their proper use of slumber aids. The quality of sleep was assessed in both groups the next morning.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION:

In the experimental group, the majority of the samples fell between the age groups of 51-60 years (30%), male (70%), married (83%), had no unhealthy habits (67%), had no experience of previous hospitalization(57%), and had a duration of sleep at home of more than 8 hours(63%). In the control group, the majority of the samples fell between the age groups of 41-50 years (43%), male (60%), married (93%), had no experience of previous hospitalization(57%),(80%) had no unhealthy habits and (57%) had a duration of sleep at homeof more than 8 hours.

In the present study, the baseline sleep quality was not significantly different in the two groups. However, the intervention could significantly improve the overall quality of sleep among experimental group.

Table 1: Pretest and post-test mean scores on perceived quality of sleep among experimental and control group patients n=60

Groups	Experimental		Mean difference	paired ‘t’ test	Control		Mean difference	Paired ‘t’ test
Groups	Mean	SD	23.36	32.91**	Mean	SD	3.0	8.60
Pre Test	38	3.61			37	3.10
Post Test	61.36	1.13			41	3.44

Note**statistically highly significant (p<0.001)

Comparison of mean score and mean differences between experimental and control groups on levels of perceived quality of sleep:

The findings revealed that slumber aid significantly improved the quality of sleep among hospitalized patients. This is in line with the findings of studies conducted by Richardson et al. ⁹. Moreover, Koo and Koh found that eye mask improved sleep quality among cardiac patients. Therefore, it seems that improving the sleep quality in this study is associated with decreasing the environmental stimuli.

Table 2: Comparison of mean score and mean differences between experimental and control groups on levels of perceived quality of sleep n=60

Groups	Experimental		Control		Mean difference	UN Paired ‘t’ Test
	Mean	SD	Mean	SD
Post Test	61.36	1.13	41	3.44	20.36	4.08**

Note** statistically highly significant (p<0.001).

In this study we did not assess the patients’ psychological aspects affect the quality of sleep. However, such factors might affect the patients quality of sleep. Then further studies are suggested to assess the effect of patients’ psychological aspects affect the quality of sleep.

CONCLUSION:

Patients require good quality sleep to protect their health and well-being. Excess noise and light, may be the most effective strategy for sleep deprivation among patients. Earplugs and Eye mask are useful simple and cost effective on invasive devices that which can be used to reduce noise and light exposure, and to ensure the perceived of quality of sleep in hospital wards. Good sleep is most deserving for patients in hospital environment for speedy recovery.

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Received on 21.10.2022 Modified on 20.02.2023

Int. J. Nur. Edu. and Research. 2023; 11(3):226-228.

DOI: 10.52711/2454-2660.2023.00051