None listed
Conditions
Brief summary
Intensive care units (ICU) provide treatment and care to critically ill patients. Frequently, invasive monitoring and intrusive treatments delivered via artificial airways are required, which limit the ability to communicate. These factors, symptoms of illness and the busy environment may lead to discomfort, in particular the inability to sleep. The adverse health effects of poor quality sleep are understood and ICU patients are in greater need of sleep. Therefore, the aim of this study is to minimise sleep disruptions and improve the quality and quantity of ICU patients’ sleep. Thirty intensive care patients’ sleep has been measured using a portable sleep monitor. Simultaneous records were made of interruptions to the patients’ sleep and sound and light levels. The results from the first group have been discussed with ICU health care personnel who have decided which sleep promoting practices to implement, i.e. organisational and behavioural changes, such as blocks of uninterrupted time and noise reduction. Sleep data will be collected on a further thirty patients to assess the effectiveness of these interventions. No studies of this type have been conducted in Australian ICUs and few published studies have been performed with the purpose of improving sleep for ICU patients. This study is a unique opportunity to obtain data on ICU patients’ sleep in Australia using the most objective measure available, polysomnograph. It also has the potential to provide data on the effectiveness of sleep promoting activities.
Interventions
The implementation of a 'rest and sleep guideline' using interventions suggested by the entire healthcare team including: a daytime rest period (in the afternoon for 1.5 hours instigated by bedside nurses), ear plugs, eye masks, clustered care and noise reduction. The guideline has been implemented using a multifaceted approach (e.g. group sessions, one to one academic detailing, auditing with feedback in the intensive care unit (ICU) newsletter, e mail and posters) and designed to be sustained
The implementation of a 'rest and sleep guideline' using interventions suggested by the entire healthcare team including: a daytime rest period (in the afternoon for 1.5 hours instigated by bedside nurses), ear plugs, eye masks, clustered care and noise reduction. The guideline has been implemented using a multifaceted approach (e.g. group sessions, one to one academic detailing, auditing with feedback in the intensive care unit (ICU) newsletter, e mail and posters) and designed to be sustained over the long-term (until further evidence becomes available to improve sleep further).
Sponsors
University of Technology Sydney
Study design
Allocation
Non-randomised trial
Intervention model
Other
Primary purpose
Treatment
Masking
Open (masking not used)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
All
Age
17 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
Treated in the intensive care unit (ICU) for 24 hours and likely to be in for a further 48 hours
Exclusion criteria
History/evidence of sleep disorder, central nervous system impairment e.g. confirmed brain injury on Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)/ Computerised Tomography (CT) scan, diagnosis of dementia
Outcome results
None listed