Background: Although good sleep during hospitalization may promote positive outcomes, some patients and clinicians may have concerns about nursing interventions designed to reduce night-time sleep disturbances.
Methods: A randomized prospective trial of an intervention to promote sleep was conducted with stable, post-operative oncology patients. Eligible patients were randomized to receive usual nursing care overnight or sleep-promoting interventions.
Results: All thirty-seven surgeons in the organization agreed to let their qualified patients participate. One hundred and forty-four patients met the study criteria. Of those, 117 (81%) consented to participate, while 27 (19%) declined. The primary reason for non-enrollment was wanting to be checked on throughout the night (n = 21, 78%). There were no adverse events during the study period. Patients' perceptions of pain and nausea control among the two groups were equivalent.
Conclusion: An intervention to decrease sleep disturbances can be safely executed in a post-operative population while maintaining adequate symptom management.
Keywords: Adults; Hospitalization; Patient experience; Sleep; Surgical patient.
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