Comparison of sleep quality between outpatient and hospitalized children with respiratory tract dysfunction

Abstract

Objectives: The main objective of the study to compare the effect of hospitalized and outpatient settings on quality of sleep in children with respiratory tract dysfunction.

Methodology: A descriptive correlational study was carried out at Dhi-Qar Health Directorate pediatric hospitals. The period of the study was from the November 19, 2023 to March 10, 2024. Purposive sample (non-probability) of 250 children (male and female). A total of (125) children were chosen from the children whose admitted to the hospitals, and a total of (125) children were chosen from the outpatient settings. The study instrument consisted of three parts: the sociodemographic sheet, clinical diagnosis sheet, and sleep quality scale. The questionnaire was modified according to experts' recommendation to use it for children with respiratory tract dysfunction. The questionnaire was evaluated by a panel of 15 experts from diverse medical and nursing professions. Both descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyze the data.

Results: The study findings that effect outpatient settings have more effect from hospitalized settings on quality of sleep in children with respiratory tract dysfunction (M ± SD = 1.322 ± 0.1522).

Conclusion: A study showed that the quality of sleep in children with respiratory tract dysfunction was generally average, whether in hospitalized or outpatient settings, outpatient settings had greater difficulties falling asleep and waking than children in hospitalized.

Keywords: Children; Hospitalized; Outpatient; Quality of sleep; Respiratory tract dysfunction; Sleep habits.