Abstract
BACKGROUND/AIM: Sleep is a restorative process that is vital for maintaining health. Hospital inpatients are at risk of poor sleep, with noise frequently reported as a major disruptor of sleep. This study sought to identify specific sources of noise disrupting sleep in respiratory inpatients. METHODS: Cross-sectional data were collected from respiratory ward inpatients at time of discharge through medical record review and completion of a questionnaire exploring sleep quality and factors disrupting sleep. RESULTS: Data includes 24 participants to date – recruitment continues. The median age was 63 years, thirteen participants (54%) were male and 12 (50%) slept in a shared room. The median number of comorbidities was seven and the most frequent admission diagnosis was COPD (29%). Sixteen patients (67%) rated sleep quality as fair to very poor, and 16 patients (67%) reported poorer sleep compared to home. Noise (10 patients – 42%) and acute medical issues (10 patients – 42%) were most frequently reported as more than a little disruptive to sleep. Seven patients in shared rooms (58%) reported noise as more than a little disruptive to sleep, compared with four patients in single rooms (25%). Environmental noise (e.g. doors banging, overhead speakers) was the most frequently reported source of noise disrupting sleep (7 patients – 29%), followed by other patients (4 patients – 17%). CONCLUSION: Most patients described their sleep in hospital as worse than at home. Noise and acute medical issues disrupted sleep most frequently, with environmental noise and other patients the most frequent noise sources.