Factors that impact on sleep in intensive care patients

Improve sleep in critically ill patients: Study protocol for a randomized controlled trial for a multi-component intervention of environment control in the ICU

INTRODUCTION

In critically ill patients, sleep and circadian rhythms are greatly altered. These disturbances have been associated with adverse consequences, including increased mortality. Factors associated with the ICU environment, such as exposure to inadequate light and noise levels during the day and night or inflexible schedules of daily care activities, have been described as playing an essential role in sleep disturbances. The main objective of this study is to evaluate the impact of the use of a multifaceted environmental control intervention in the ICU on the quantity and quality of sleep, delirium, and post-intensive care neuropsychological impairment in critically ill patients.

METHODS

This is a prospective, parallel-group, randomized trial in 56 critically ill patients once they are starting to recover from their acute illness. Patients will be randomized to receive a multifaceted intervention of environmental control in the ICU (dynamic light therapy, auditory masking, and rationalization of ICU nocturnal patient care activities) or standard care. The protocol will be applied from enrollment until ICU discharge. Baseline parameters, light and noise levels, polysomnography and actigraphy, daily oscillation of plasma concentrations of Melatonin and Cortisol, and questionnaires for the qualitative evaluation of sleep, will be assessed during the study. In addition, all patients will undergo standardized follow-up before hospital discharge and at 6 months to evaluate neuropsychological impairment.

DISCUSSION

This study is the first randomized clinical trial in critically ill patients to evaluate the effect of a multicomponent, non-pharmacological environmental control intervention on sleep improvement in ICU patients. The results will provide data about the potential synergistic effects of a combined multi-component environmental intervention in ICU on outcomes in the ICU and long term, and the mechanism of action.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT. Registered on January 10, 2023. Last updated on 24 Jan 2023.

Promoting sleep in hospitals: An integrative review of nurses' attitudes, knowledge and practices

AIMS

To explore nurses' knowledge, attitudes and practices related to improving hospitalized patients' sleep.

DESIGN

Integrative review.

DATA SOURCES

We searched CINAHL, PubMed and PsycInfo electronically including a manual search of references listed within the relevant studies. Original, peer-reviewed studies published in English between 2000 and 2022 evaluating nurses' sleep knowledge, attitudes, or practices to improve inpatients' sleep were reviewed.

REVIEW METHODS

This review was guided by Whittemore and Knafl method and followed PRISMA guidelines to search the literature. Fifteen articles reporting nurses' sleep knowledge, attitudes or practices to improve inpatients' sleep were included. The quality appraisal was done using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool version 2018.

RESULTS

Inadequate training of nurses regarding sleep hygiene and insufficiency in sleep-promoting practices were apparent. Most studies reported that nurses hold positive attitudes about sleep. The acuity of patients' health conditions affected their perception of sleep priorities. Lack of organizational sleep policies/protocols and coworkers' attitudes negatively impacted nurses' motivation to implement sleep hygiene interventions. Interventions reported in the studies were reducing noise and nursing interventions at night, using a clock for time orientation, earplugs, reducing light, keeping patients awake during the daytime, maintaining comfortable room temperature and managing patients' stress. These practices were hindered by poor knowledge, negative attitudes, patients' acuity and lack of sleep assessment tools.

CONCLUSION

It is essential to support nursing practice to improve patients' sleep in hospitals through interventions that target nurses' knowledge, attitudes and confidence towards implementing sleep hygiene interventions to improve patients' sleep and, consequently, their health outcomes during hospitalization.

IMPACT

This integrative review explored nurses' knowledge, attitudes and practices to improve patients' sleep during hospitalization. It revealed that expanding nurses' sleep knowledge and empowering them to implement sleep promotion practices are needed. Nursing educators and leaders need to be involved.

NO PATIENT OR PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION

This paper is an integrative review and does not include patient or public contribution.

The Effect of a Sleep Intervention on Sleep Quality in Nursing Students: Study Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial

We develop a protocol for assessing the impact of an intervention aimed at improving sleep quality among university nursing students. The study is designed as a pilot randomized controlled trial to be applied during the 2022-23 academic year and is registered at Clinical Trials Gov website (NCT05273086). A total of 60 nursing students will be recruited from a Spanish university. They will be divided into two groups: (30) intervention group and (30) control group. The intervention group will attend two cognitive-behavioural therapy sleep programme sessions focused on knowledge of anatomical structures involved in sleep, chronotype, synchronization, and good sleeping habits. Subjective and objective sleep quality will be assessed before and after the intervention for both groups. In addition to sleep quality, socio-demographic parameters, physical activity, lifestyle habits, and anthropometric measures will be considered prior to intervention. Finally, a satisfaction questionnaire will be applied for posterior analysis. This study is an innovative, relevant intervention that aims to improve sleep quality among university nursing students. Both the approach and the use of objective and subjective validated outcome measurements are key features of this study.

An Update on Prevalence, Assessment, and Risk Factors for Sleep Disturbances in Patients with Advanced Cancer—Implications for Health Care Providers and Clinical Research

Simple Summary

This review focuses on sleep in patients with advanced cancer. Cancer patients experience multiple symptoms and they receive concomitant medications. These are all factors that may affect sleep. In this paper, we present recommendations on sleep assessment in patients with advanced cancer and highlight cancer-related factors that may contribute to insomnia. Sleep is an essential aspect of health-related quality of life; therefore, it is important for health care providers to focus on sleep to improve patient care.

Abstract

Patients with advanced cancer experience multiple symptoms, with fluctuating intensity and severity during the disease. They use several medications, including opioids, which may affect sleep. Sleep disturbance is common in cancer patients, decreases the tolerability of other symptoms, and impairs quality of life. Despite its high prevalence and negative impact, poor sleep quality often remains unrecognized and undertreated. Given that sleep is an essential aspect of health-related quality of life, it is important to extend both the knowledge base and awareness among health care providers in this field to improve patient care. In this narrative review, we provide recommendations on sleep assessment in patients with advanced cancer and highlight cancer-related factors that contribute to insomnia. We also present direct implications for health care providers working in palliative care and for future research.

Noise reduction in the ICU: a best practice implementation project

INTRODUCTION

Sleep deprivation is a relevant problem among patients hospitalized in ICUs. Further, noise is the most critical disruptive factor according to patients.

OBJECTIVE

To implement scientific evidence-based best practices for noise control in an adult ICU.

METHODS

This was an evidence-based implementation project of best practices in noise control, conducted in a high-complexity hospital's adult ICU. The intervention consisted of three steps: baseline audit and identification of barriers, implementation of best practices, and a follow-up audit.

RESULTS

No compliance with best practices was detected in the baseline audit. After the implementation phase, the unit reached compliance levels of 78-88% for most of these criteria only one criterion related to noise level did not match the expected compliance.

CONCLUSION

Adherence to best practices regarding noise control was satisfactory, achieving more than 70% compliance in the six audit criteria. Only the noise level did not reach the threshold recommended by the WHO - a difficulty reported in other studies.

RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE

Best practices related to noise control are essential for managing sleep deprivation in ICUs and include changes in the behaviour of involved professionals.

Factors contributing to poor sleep in critically ill patients: A systematic review and meta-synthesis of qualitative studies

OBJECTIVE

To examine the causes of poor sleep in critically ill patients from nurses' experiences.

REVIEW METHODOLOGY

A meta-synthesis following the Enhancing Transparency in Reporting the Synthesis of Qualitative Research statement was conducted. Articles were searched systematically in the CINAHL, MEDLINE and Embase databases up to January 2020. Study selection and data extraction were performed by two authors working independently. Included articles were critically evaluated by both authors using the Critical Appraisal Screening Programme tool.

FINDINGS

The meta-synthesis resulted in four analytical themes: (1) Inherent factors of critical illness, (2) Lack of implementation of evidence-based practice, (3) Lack of relational collaboration, (4) Hospital organisation and culture.

CONCLUSION

This literature review indicates that promoting critically ill patients' sleep is difficult. Evidence-based interventions should be implemented into practice in order for nurses to be able to meet the patients' needs and improve sleep. Furthermore, the team surrounding the patient must have support from the health care organisation, and a culture change is necessary to improve communication between them to reach a shared goal to improve critically ill patients' sleep.

Sleep Deprivation Etiologies Among Patients in the Intensive Care Unit: Literature Review

BACKGROUND

Sleep deprivation among patients is a common problem in the intensive care unit (ICU). Studies have tried to find the etiologies of sleep deprivation. Poor sleep quality in the ICU has effects such as delirium, weakening the wound healing, and anxiety. Researches have concluded that the etiologies for sleep deprivation are multifactorial.

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this review is to discuss the etiologies of sleep deprivation among ICU patients. This review also aims to discuss effects of sleep deprivations and provide implications for promoting sleep quality in the ICU.

METHODS

For this literature review, ProQuest, MEDLINE, and Up To Date were used to find articles about sleep deprivation among ICU patients. The search was narrowed to articles between 2008 and 2019. A total of 23 articles were included that were found to match the inclusion criteria.

RESULTS

Findings indicated that sleep deprivations etiologies among ICU patients can be environmental and nonenvironmental. Sensory overload, sensory deprivation, and patients' care activities are environmental etiologies for sleep deprivation. The nonenvironmental factors include pharmacological, physical, and psychological factors.

DISCUSSION

Sleep deprivation etiologies are multifactorial and have several effects on ICU patients. Sleep protocol and staff training should be introduced to reduce unnecessary interventions by ICU staff. Tele-ICU monitoring can also be introduced to reduce unnecessary interventions where clinicians can monitor patients remotely and therefore enhance sleep in the ICU. During their stay in the ICU, patients can be instructed to wear earplugs and also have aromatherapy massage to reduce stress and enhance sleep quality. More research on the physical pain and the psychological factors using objective methods should be conducted in the future.

The efficacy of nursing interventions on sleep quality in hospitalized patients: A systematic review of randomized controlled trials

OBJECTIVE

To determine the effect of interventions that could be performed by nurses to improve the sleep quality of hospitalized patients in acute and semi-acute units.

DESIGN

A systematic review of randomized controlled trials and narrative synthesis.

DATA SOURCES

Seven electronic databases (PubMed, CINAHL Plus, Scopus, ISI WoS, CENTRAL, PsycInfo, and Embase) were accessed on 20 May 2019 with a temporal limit of 10 years prior.

REVIEW METHODS

Original research studies of interventions that could be delivered by nurses to improve sleep quality during hospitalization in acute and semi-acute units were included. Study selection, data extraction, and risk of bias assessment were performed by two independent reviewers.

RESULTS

Seventeen studies met the inclusion criteria and were included in this review. The interventions carried out in the trials were classified into four categories of measurement: environmental, physical, behavioural, and combined. Fourteen studies obtained statistically significant improvements; two showed a blend of significant and non-significant improvements; and one reported non-significant results. However, only four trials of the seventeen were judged as having a low risk of bias.

CONCLUSIONS

Overall evidence about interventions that could be performed by nurses to improve perceived sleep quality in hospitalized patients was found to be positive, and no negative effects were reported. However, higher quality research using both subjective and objective measures is needed, in order to strengthen the evidence.

Providing Evidence-Based Care, Day and Night: A Quality Improvement Initiative to Improve Intensive Care Unit Patient Sleep Quality

OBJECTIVE

Evidence-based guidelines recommend promoting sleep in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), yet many patients experience poor sleep quality. We sought to engage allied health staff and patient families to determine barriers to sleep promotion, to measure sleep quality for ICU patients, and to evaluate the improvement in sleep quality after implementation of nursing morning report protocol and a doorway poster.

DESIGN

The study followed an interrupted time-series framework of quality improvement. Qualitative diagnostics included focus groups and interviews with patients, families, and allied health care workers, analyzed by qualitative descriptive analysis. Quantitative diagnostics included direct observation of nurses and patients overnight. Analysis of primary outcome data used statistical process control methodology.

PATIENTS

Patients included were >18 years old, admitted overnight to a Canadian tertiary academic ICU, with a Richards Agitation Sedation Scale (RASS) ≥-2.

INTERVENTIONS

Sleep quality was measured using the Richards Campbell Sleep Questionnaire (RCSQ). Two interventions were developed: sleep quality in morning nursing report, and a doorway poster.

MAIN RESULTS

A total of 2332 patient nights across 7 consecutive months were included for analysis. Baseline sleep in the ICU was poor (mean RCSQ 53.7/100). Root cause-analysis identified the most prominent sleep barriers as nurse stigma associated with less active management of patients and lack of physician engagement. No significant improvement occurred over the sleep quality improvement initiative (mean RCSQ 59.5/100). Sleep quality was better among non-delirious patients compared with delirious patients (mean RCSQ 62.7 vs 53.3).

CONCLUSION

The intervention of a nursing morning report protocol and sleep posters did not improve the quality of ICU patient sleep in this study. Structured interviews revealed potential sleep barriers to be addressed such as nursing stigma and inappropriate awakenings. Nursing stigma has not been previously linked to sleep quality.

The effects of noise levels on pain, anxiety, and sleep in patients

BACKGROUND

Intensive care is a noisy environment for patients and one that affects pain, anxiety levels, and sleep quality.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

To determine the relationship between noise levels and pain, anxiety, and sleep levels in patients in intensive care units.

DESIGN

A descriptive and observational study design was used.

METHODS

This study was conducted between June and December 2018 in a public hospital and included 111 patients admitted to surgical critical care for at least 24 hours. Three Benetech Gm1351 manual sound level metres were used to measure noise. A Patient Information Form, a pain Visual Analog Scale (VAS), the Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, and the Richards Campbell Sleep Questionnaire (RCSQ) were used for data collection.

RESULTS

The mean age of the patients was 57.29 years. The mean noise level detected in the intensive care unit was 66.52 dB (dB). Patients' mean pain VAS score was 3.79 ± 1.72, the mean State Anxiety Inventory score was 39.74 ± 2.98, and the mean total RCSQ score was 25.10 ± 13.17. Our findings show that patients in the intensive care unit are exposed to high noise levels and that, while this has no effect on pain, it significantly impacts anxiety and quality of sleep.

CONCLUSIONS

Noise levels in intensive care units significantly exceed recommended thresholds, and this adversely affects patients' anxiety levels and sleep quality. It is important for suitably restful conditions to be provided for patients, to be aware of the potential for anxiety, and for these factors to be borne in mind when planning nursing interventions.

RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE

Further studies on the effects of noise levels on pain, anxiety, and sleep levels in patients admitted to intensive care units are needed.

Psychogenic stress in hospitalized veterinary patients: Causation, implications, and therapies

OBJECTIVE

To review the sources, adverse effects, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of psychogenic stress in hospitalized human and veterinary patients.

DATA SOURCES

Data were collected by searching PubMed for veterinary and human literature from the past 10 years.

HUMAN DATA SYNTHESIS

Psychogenic stress has been linked to immune suppression; gastrointestinal, cardiovascular, and cutaneous diseases; delayed wound healing; alterations in pain perception; and neurologic impairment. Sources of psychogenic stress include environmental alterations such as excessive noise and light, social and physical factors, sleep disruption, drugs, and underlying disease. Nonpharmacologic options for stress reduction include environmental and treatment modifications, music therapy, and early mobilization. Pharmacologic options include sedation with benzodiazepines and dexmedetomidine. Trazodone and melatonin have been examined for use in sleep promotion but are not currently recommended as standard treatments in ICU.

VETERINARY DATA SYNTHESIS

Activation of the stress response in veterinary patients is largely the same as in people, as are the affected body systems. Possible sources of stress can include social, physical, and environmental factors. No gold standard currently exists for the identification and quantification of stress. A combination of physical examination findings and the results of serum biochemistry, CBC, and biomarker testing can be used to support the diagnosis. Stress scales can be implemented to identify stressed patients and assess severity. Nonpharmacologic treatment options include low-stress handling, pheromones, environmental modifications, and sleep promotion. Pharmacologic options include trazodone, benzodiazepines, dexmedetomidine, and melatonin.

CONCLUSION

The prevalence and clinical significance of psychogenic stress in hospitalized veterinary patients is unknown. Future studies are needed to specifically examine the causative factors of psychogenic stress and the effects of various therapies on stress reduction. The recognition and reduction of psychogenic stress in veterinary patients can lead to improvements in patient care and welfare.

Impact of a Nurse Intervention to Improve Sleep Quality in Intensive Care Units: Results From a Randomized Controlled Trial

BACKGROUND

Patients of adult intensive care units (ICUs) often suffer from a lack of sleep. Reducing anxiety by promoting adaptation to the ICU prior to admission may be an appropriate way to increase sleep quality.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact on sleep quality of a brief nurse intervention.

METHODS

This was a pilot randomized controlled trial in Spain. Forty patients admitted in hospital for valve cardiac surgery were randomly allocated to (1) control group (n = 20), receiving usual care, and to (2) experimental group (EG, n = 20), receiving a nurse intervention the day before surgery and admission in the ICU. The intervention was based on Roy Adaptation Model. A trained nurse anticipated the stressful stimulus to patients in order to develop functional adaptive behaviors. A set of photographs and videos was used to illustrate the environment and assistance in the ICU. Sleep quality in the ICU was measured with the Richards-Campbell Sleep Questionnaire and usual sleep quality with the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index.

RESULTS

After the intervention, sleep quality was lower in the EG compared with the control group (-4 points in Richards-Campbell Sleep Questionnaire, P = .69). Adjustment for main confounders led this reduction to -1.9 points (P = .87) among patients in EG. Stratified analyses shown a positive impact for people who usually slept well (+5.2 points, P = .77), but negative for those who had previous poor sleep quality (-20.0 points, P = .24).

CONCLUSION

A nurse intervention prior to ICU admission did not increase patients' sleep quality. In addition, the intervention could have incremented anxiety over the patients who used to sleep poorly at their homes.

A Cross-Sectional Study Examining the Correlation between Nocturnal Melatonin Level and Sleep Quality in Patients Admitted To the Cardiac Care Unit

BACKGROUND:

Quality of sleep, as a basic need, is an important factor for surviving patients in hospitals. Many factors may contribute to disturbing patients sleep, such as continuous ambient light, is required for healthcare providers to monitor patients. Ambient light can influence patients’ quality of sleep due to melatonin secretion.

AIM:

Study aimed to determine the correlation between nocturnal melatonin levels and sleep quality in patients admitted to the Cardiac Care Units (CCU).

MATERIAL AND METHODS:

This cross-sectional study was done on inpatients of CCUs at Amir-Almomenin Hospital in Kordkoy city, a cardiac referral hospital in the northeastern of Iran in 2015. Sixty-eight inpatients were selected through convenience sampling. Before data gathering light level of CCUs was measured every one hour in 2 days, the quality of nocturnal sleep was investigated through Verran and Snyder-Halpern (VSH) Sleep Scale at the second night of admission urinary melatonin level was measured at the same night in all urine excreted between 22:00 pm and 07:00 am.

RESULTS:

The mean and standard deviation (SD) score of sleep quality in three dimensions of sleep disturbance, sleep effectiveness and sleep supplementation were 336.6 ± 149.9, 269.0 ± 82.2, and 175.2 ± 30.7, respectively. Also, the mean and SD of nocturnal urinary melatonin levels was 323.02 ± 136.21 pg/ml. There was not a significant correlation between level of nocturnal melatonin and three domains of sleep quality; sleep disturbance (r = 0.005, P = 0.968), sleep effectiveness (r = 0.090, P = 0.464), and sleep supplementation (r = -0.037, P = 0.763).

CONCLUSION:

According to the result, most CCUs patients suffer from sleep disturbance. However, there was no correlation between the level of melatonin and sleep quality. There is a need for recognising the reasons for sleep disturbances in Cardiac Care Units. It is imperative for care providers to be able to recognise the causes of sleep disturbances and to modify environmental factors such as ambient light to improve sleep quality in hospitalised patients.

Evaluating Sleep in a Surgical Trauma Burn Intensive Care Unit: An Elusive Dilemma

BACKGROUND

Evidence points to the adverse effects of sleep deprivation on a person's health. Despite decades of attention to the issue, patients, particularly those in the intensive care unit (ICU), continue to suffer.

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this pilot study was to examine patients' perceptions of their sleep experience in the surgical trauma burn ICU and identify contributing factors.

METHODOLOGY

Patients were administered the 6-question Richards-Campbell Sleep Questionnaire (RCSQ) consisting of a 0- to 100-mm scale, with a low score indicating poor sleep quality. They were also asked an additional open-ended question.

RESULTS

Sixty patients participated. Data revealed a low overall RCSQ score of 43.6 of 100. Of the 5 validated questions on the RCSQ, the question with the lowest mean (35.6) targeted depth of sleep. The question pertaining to falling asleep immediately scored the highest at 52.2. The open-ended question revealed that 37% reported "interruptions" as the reason for not sleeping. Pain was also cited as a factor by 30%, with 11.7% citing discomfort from the bed as an irritant. An additional 21.6% reported noise as the central reason, with "pumps/monitor" noise as the most frequent culprit at 62%.

DISCUSSION

The pilot study results demonstrate that most participants perceived their sleep as poor in quality. These results direct targeted interventions that can be incorporated to reduce sleep deprivation in ICUs.

Melatonin for the promotion of sleep in adults in the intensive care unit

BACKGROUND

Patients in the intensive care unit (ICU) experience sleep deprivation caused by environmental disruption, such as high noise levels and 24-hour lighting, as well as increased patient care activities and invasive monitoring as part of their care. Sleep deprivation affects physical and psychological health, and patients perceive the quality of their sleep to be poor whilst in the ICU. Artificial lighting during night-time hours in the ICU may contribute to reduced production of melatonin in critically ill patients. Melatonin is known to have a direct effect on the circadian rhythm, and it appears to reset a natural rhythm, thus promoting sleep.

OBJECTIVES

To assess whether the quantity and quality of sleep may be improved by administration of melatonin to adults in the intensive care unit. To assess whether melatonin given for sleep promotion improves both physical and psychological patient outcomes.

SEARCH METHODS

We searched the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL; 2017, Issue 8), MEDLINE (1946 to September 2017), Embase (1974 to September 2017), the Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL) (1937 to September 2017), and PsycINFO (1806 to September 2017). We searched clinical trials registers for ongoing studies, and conducted backward and forward citation searching of relevant articles.

SELECTION CRITERIA

We included randomized and quasi-randomized controlled trials with adult participants (over the age of 16) admitted to the ICU with any diagnoses given melatonin versus a comparator to promote overnight sleep. We included participants who were mechanically ventilated and those who were not mechanically ventilated. We planned to include studies that compared the use of melatonin, given at an appropriate clinical dose with the intention of promoting night-time sleep, against no agent; or against another agent administered specifically to promote sleep.

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS

Two review authors independently assessed studies for inclusion, extracted data, assessed risk of bias, and synthesized findings. We assessed the quality of evidence with GRADE.

MAIN RESULTS

We included four studies with 151 randomized participants. Two studies included participants who were mechanically ventilated, one study included a mix of ventilated and non-ventilated participants and in one study participants were being weaned from mechanical ventilation. Three studies reported admission diagnoses, which varied: these included sepsis, pneumonia and cardiac or cardiorespiratory arrest. All studies compared melatonin against no agent; three were placebo-controlled trials; and one compared melatonin with usual care. All studies administered melatonin in the evening.All studies reported adequate methods for randomization and placebo-controlled trials were blinded at the participant and personnel level. We noted high risk of attrition bias in one study and were unclear about potential bias introduced in two studies with differences between participants at baseline.It was not appropriate to combine data owing to differences in measurement tools, or methods used to report data.The effects of melatonin on subjectively rated quantity and quality of sleep are uncertain (very low certainty evidence). Three studies (139 participants) reported quantity and quality of sleep as measured through reports of participants or family members or by personnel assessments. Study authors in one study reported no difference in sleep efficiency index scores between groups for participant assessment (using Richards-Campbell Sleep Questionnaire) and nurse assessment. Two studies reported no difference in duration of sleep observed by nurses.The effects of melatonin on objectively measured quantity and quality of sleep are uncertain (very low certainty evidence). Two studies (37 participants) reported quantity and quality of sleep as measured by polysomnography (PSG), actigraphy, bispectral index (BIS) or electroencephalogram (EEG). Study authors in one study reported no difference in sleep efficiency index scores between groups using BIS and actigraphy. These authors also reported longer sleep in participants given melatonin which was not statistically significant, and improved sleep (described as "better sleep") in participants given melatonin from analysis of area under the curve (AUC) of BIS data. One study used PSG but authors were unable to report data because of a large loss of participant data.One study (82 participants) reported no evidence of a difference in anxiety scores (very low certainty evidence). Two studies (94 participants) reported data for mortality: one study reported that overall one-third of participants died; and one study reported no evidence of difference between groups in hospital mortality (very low certainty). One study (82 participants) reported no evidence of a difference in length of ICU stay (very low certainty evidence). Effects of melatonin on adverse events were reported in two studies (107 participants), and are uncertain (very low certainty evidence): one study reported headache in one participant given melatonin, and one study reported excessive sleepiness in one participant given melatonin and two events in the control group (skin reaction in one participant, and excessive sleepiness in another participant).The certainty of the evidence for each outcome was limited by sparse data with few participants. We noted study limitations in some studies due to high attrition and differences between groups in baseline data; and doses of melatonin varied between studies. Methods used to measure data were not consistent for outcomes, and use of some measurement tools may not be effective for use on the ICU patient. All studies included participants in the ICU but we noted differences in ICU protocols, and one included study used a non-standard sedation protocol with participants which introduced indirectness to the evidence.

AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS

We found insufficient evidence to determine whether administration of melatonin would improve the quality and quantity of sleep in ICU patients. We identified sparse data, and noted differences in study methodology, in ICU sedation protocols, and in methods used to measure and report sleep. We identified five ongoing studies from database and clinical trial register searches. Inclusion of data from these studies in future review updates would provide more certainty for the review outcomes.

Implications of disturbances in circadian rhythms for cardiovascular health: A new frontier in free radical biology

Cell autonomous circadian "clock" mechanisms are present in virtually every organ, and generate daily rhythms that are important for normal physiology. This is especially relevant to the cardiovascular system, for example the circadian mechanism orchestrates rhythms in heart rate, blood pressure, cardiac contractility, metabolism, gene and protein abundance over the 24-h day and night cycles. Conversely, disturbing circadian rhythms (e.g. via shift work, sleep disorders) increases cardiovascular disease risk, and exacerbates cardiac remodelling and worsens outcome. Notably, reactive oxygen species (ROS) are important contributors to heart disease, especially the pathophysiologic damage that occurs after myocardial infarction (MI, heart attack). However, little is known about how the circadian mechanism, or rhythm desynchrony, is involved in these key pathologic stress responses. This review summarizes the current knowledge on circadian rhythms in the cardiovascular system, and the implications of rhythm disturbances for cardiovascular health. Furthermore, we highlight how free radical biology coincides with the pathogenesis of myocardial repair and remodelling after MI, and indicate a role for the circadian system in the oxidative stress pathways in the heart and brain after MI. This fusion of circadian biology with cardiac oxidative stress pathways is novel, and offers enormous potential for improving our understanding and treatment of heart disease.

Patients' perceptions of sleep in a Critical Care Unit

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES

Patients' sleep can be disturbed during their stay in an Intensive Care Unit. Many factors can explain this disturbance, both within the ICU environment and caused by patients' illnesses. There is evidence that patients' sleep can be improved within ICUs. The aim of this study is to describe patientś perceptions of a night's sleep and develop a care plan that promotes a night's sleep.

METHODOLOGY

A prospective descriptive study was performed in the ICU of a training hospital. The sleep of 125 patients was explored. Sociodemographic and clinical variables were collected from patients' medical records. The 5-item Richards-Campbell Sleep Questionnaire was utilised to assess patients' perception of a night's sleep. In addition, an ad-hoc 9-item questionnaire was developed which included factors that can affect sleep according to the literature. Patients had to grade the level of interference of those factors with their night's sleep.

RESULTS

The sleep of patients in our Intensive Care Unit was moderately deep, with light arousals and ease in falling sleep again. The average value on the Richards-Campbell Sleep Questionnaire was 52.92mm. The factors that significantly interfered with sleep were: pain (P=0.009), worries/anxiety (P=.01), staff voices (P=0.033), alarm/medical devices sounds (P=0.047) and peripheral intravenous lines (P=.036).

CONCLUSIONS

Our patients' perception of a night's sleep in the ICU was fair. Optimising pain management, answering questions or worries, minimizing background noise and voices have the potential to improve sleep quality.

The impact of a prolonged stay in the ICU on patients' fundamental care needs

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

To explore patients', families' and health professionals' experiences of a long-stay patient in an intensive care unit.

BACKGROUND

The fast-paced technologically driven intensive care unit environment, designed for a short patient stay, supports the provision of complex physiologically focused care for those with life-threatening illnesses. Long-stay patients with pronounced fundamental care needs fall outside predicted patient pathways, and nurses can find caring for these patients challenging.

DESIGN AND METHODS

A longitudinal, qualitative, multicase study of six cases from four New Zealand units. Case participants were patients, family members, nurses and other health professionals. Data collection methods included observation, conversations, interviews and document review. Data were analysed using thematic analysis, vignette development and trajectory mapping.

RESULTS

Challenges and successes of providing fundamental care for long-stay ICU patients are attributed to two interlinked factors. First, the biomedical model influences ICU nursing practices, resulting in prioritising tasks and technology for patient survival while simultaneously devaluing relational and comfort work. Fundamental psychosocial needs such as family presence, comfort, relationships and communication may be unmet. Second, the unit environment and culture have a significant impact on long-stay patients' ICU experiences and form physical and psychological barriers to families being present and involved. Some nurses negotiated these challenges to provide fundamental, patient- and family-centred care by adopting an approach of knowing the patient and these nurses reported satisfaction when seeing patients' positive responses.

CONCLUSION

The care environment and culture provide challenges to the provision of patient- and family-centred care for long-stay patients; however, when nurses prioritise knowing their patient these challenges can be overcome and patient and family distress reduced with the potential to improve patient outcomes.

RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE

Recognition that patients have fundamental care needs irrespective of the setting where they receive care. Intensive care environments and cultures create challenges for nurses when there is such a heavy burden of physiological needs to be met and technological tasks to be undertaken, with a focus on acuity; however, improving provision fundamental care can result in positive patient outcomes.

Propofol for the promotion of sleep in adults in the intensive care unit

BACKGROUND

People in the intensive care unit (ICU) experience sleep deprivation caused by environmental disruption, such as high noise levels and 24-hour lighting, as well as increased patient care activities and invasive monitoring as part of their care. Sleep deprivation affects physical and psychological health, and people perceive the quality of their sleep to be poor whilst in the ICU. Propofol is an anaesthetic agent which can be used in the ICU to maintain patient sedation and some studies suggest it may be a suitable agent to replicate normal sleep.

OBJECTIVES

To assess whether the quantity and quality of sleep may be improved by administration of propofol to adults in the ICU and to assess whether propofol given for sleep promotion improves both physical and psychological patient outcomes.

SEARCH METHODS

We searched the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL; 2017, Issue 10), MEDLINE (1946 to October 2017), Embase (1974 to October 2017), the Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL) (1937 to October 2017) and PsycINFO (1806 to October 2017). We searched clinical trials registers for ongoing studies, and conducted backward and forward citation searching of relevant articles.

SELECTION CRITERIA

We included randomized and quasi-randomized controlled trials with adults, over the age of 16 years, admitted to the ICU with any diagnoses, given propofol versus a comparator to promote overnight sleep. We included participants who were and were not mechanically ventilated. We included studies that compared the use of propofol, given at an appropriate clinical dose with the intention of promoting night-time sleep, against: no agent; propofol at a different rate or dose; or another agent, administered specifically to promote sleep. We included only studies in which propofol was given during 'normal' sleeping hours (i.e. between 10 pm and 7 am) to promote a sleep-like state with a diurnal rhythm.

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS

Two review authors independently assessed studies for inclusion, extracted data, assessed risk of bias and synthesized findings.

MAIN RESULTS

We included four studies with 149 randomized participants. We identified two studies awaiting classification for which we were unable to assess eligibility and one ongoing study.Participants differed in severity of illness as assessed by APACHE II scores in three studies and further differences existed between comparisons and methods. One study compared propofol versus no agent, one study compared different doses of propofol and two studies compared propofol versus a benzodiazepine (flunitrazepam, one study; midazolam, one study). All studies reported randomization and allocation concealment inadequately. We judged all studies to have high risk of performance bias from personnel who were unblinded. We noted that some study authors had blinded study outcome assessors and participants for relevant outcomes.It was not appropriate to combine data owing to high levels of methodological heterogeneity.One study comparing propofol with no agent (13 participants) measured quantity and quality of sleep using polysomnography; study authors reported no evidence of a difference in duration of sleep or sleep efficiency, and reported disruption to usual REM (rapid eye movement sleep) with propofol.One study comparing different doses of propofol (30 participants) measured quantity and quality of sleep by personnel using the Ramsay Sedation Scale; study authors reported that more participants who were given a higher dose of propofol had a successful diurnal rhythm, and achieved a greater sedation rhythmicity.Two studies comparing propofol with a different agent (106 participants) measured quantity and quality of sleep using the Pittsburgh Sleep Diary and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale; one study reported fewer awakenings of reduced duration with propofol, and similar total sleep time between groups, and one study reported no evidence of a difference in sleep quality. One study comparing propofol with another agent (66 participants) measured quantity and quality of sleep with the Bispectral Index and reported longer time in deep sleep, with fewer arousals. One study comparing propofol with another agent (40 participants) reported higher levels of anxiety and depression in both groups, and no evidence of a difference when participants were given propofol.No studies reported adverse events.We used the GRADE approach to downgrade the certainty of the evidence for each outcome to very low. We identified sparse data with few participants, and methodological differences in study designs and comparative agents introduced inconsistency, and we noted that measurement tools were imprecise or not valid for purpose.

AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS

We found insufficient evidence to determine whether administration of propofol would improve the quality and quantity of sleep in adults in the ICU. We noted differences in study designs, methodology, comparative agents and illness severity amongst study participants. We did not pool data and we used the GRADE approach to downgrade the certainty of our evidence to very low.

Systematic review of the effects of intensive-care-unit noise on sleep of healthy subjects and the critically ill

Intensive-care-unit (ICU) patients exhibit disturbed sleeping patterns, often attributed to environmental noise, although the relative contribution of noise compared to other potentially disrupting factors is often debated. We therefore systematically reviewed studies of the effects of ICU noise on the quality of sleep to determine to what extent noise explains the observed sleep disruption, using the Cochrane Collaboration method for non-randomized studies. Searches in Scopus, PubMed, Embase, CINAHL, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library were conducted until May 2017. Twenty papers from 18 studies assessing sleep of adult patients and healthy volunteers in the ICU environment, whilst recording sound levels, were included and independently reviewed by two reviewers. We found that the numbers of arousals between the baseline and the ICU noise condition in healthy subjects differed significantly (mean difference 9.59; 95% confidence interval 2.48-16.70). However, there was considerable heterogeneity between studies (I² 94%, P < 0.00001), and all studies suffered from a considerable risk of bias. The meta-analysis of results was hampered by widely varying definitions of sound parameters between studies and a general lack of detailed description of methods used. It is, therefore, currently impossible to quantify the extent to which noise contributes to sleep disruption among ICU patients, and thus, the potential benefit from noise reduction remains unclear. Regardless, the majority of the observed sleep disturbances remain unexplained. Future studies should, therefore, also focus on more intrinsic sleep-disrupting factors in the ICU environment.

Effects of music during daytime rest in the intensive care unit

BACKGROUND

Sleep is essential to the recovery of patients in the intensive care unit. Patients in the intensive care unit frequently experience poor sleep, characterized by sleep deprivation, sleep fragmentation and abnormal sleep architecture. Factors affecting sleep are multifactorial.

AIM

To investigate the effects of music on self-reported quality of sleep during daytime rest among patients in the intensive care unit.

STUDY DESIGN

A randomized controlled trial.

METHODS

The study was conducted between February and April 2016 in two Danish multidisciplinary intensive care units. The study sample consisted of 37 patients (19 in the control group and 18 in the intervention group) who complied with the criteria of inclusion for the study. Patients were randomly assigned to either an intervention group or a control group. The intervention group listened to music for 30 min during daytime rest while the control group rested without music. The Richards-Campbell Sleep Questionnaire was used to measure the subjective quality of sleep.

RESULTS

Significant differences in the mean scores of the subjective quality of sleep were found between the intervention group and the control group (p < 0·02). Significant differences were also found between groups in three items of sleep scores: sleep depth (p < 0·02), awakenings (p < 0·00) and the overall perceived quality of sleep (p < 0·01). The perceived noise level score was higher in the intervention group compared with the control group, although not statistically significant (p < 0·67).

CONCLUSION

Listening to music during daytime rest improves subjective sleep in patients in the intensive care unit. Furthermore, there are indications that listening to music reduces the subjective experience of noise in some patients.

RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE

The result of this study implies that music can be an effective practice for nurses to improve sleep among patients in the intensive care unit.

Effect of the use of earplugs and eye mask on the quality of sleep in intensive care patients: a systematic review

Intensive care unit (ICU) environment has a very strong and unavoidable negative impact on patients' sleep. Sleep deprivation in ICU patients has been already studied and negative effects on their outcome (prolonged ICU stay, decreased recovery) and complication rates (incidence of delirium, neuropsychological sequels of critical illness) discussed. Several interventions potentially improving the sleep disturbance in ICU (sleep-promotion strategies) have been assumed and tested for clinical practice. We present a review of recent literature focused on chosen types of non-pharmacological interventions (earplugs and eye mask) analysing their effect on sleep quality/quantity. From the total amount of 82 papers found in biomedical databases (CINAHL, PubMed and SCOPUS) we included the 19 most eligible studies meeting defined inclusion/exclusion criteria involving 1 379 participants. Both experimental and clinical trials, either ICU and non-ICU patient populations were analysed in the review. Most of the reviewed studies showed a significant improvement of subjective sleep quality when using described non-pharmacological interventions (objective parameters were not significantly validated). Measuring the sleep quality is a major concern limiting the objective comparison of the studies' results since non-standardised (and mainly individual) tools for sleep quality assessment were used. Despite the heterogeneity of analysed studies and some common methodological issues (sample size, design, outcome parameters choice and comparison) earplugs and eye mask showed potential positive effects on sleep quality and the incidence of delirium in ICU patients.

Factors Influencing Patients' Sleep in the Intensive Care Unit: Perceptions of Patients and Clinical Staff

BACKGROUND

Multiple factors are believed to contribute to disruption of patients' sleep and negatively affect clinical outcomes in the intensive care unit. Achieving restorative sleep for critically ill patients remains a challenge.

OBJECTIVES

To explore the perceptions and beliefs of staff, patients, and surrogates regarding the environmental and nonenvironmental factors in the medical intensive care unit that affect patients' sleep.

METHODS

This qualitative study included 24 medical intensive care unit staff (7 physicians, 5 respiratory therapists, 10 nurses, and 2 patient-care assistants), 8 patients, and 6 patient surrogates. Semistructured interviews were conducted, and qualitative analysis of content was used to code, categorize, and identify interview themes.

RESULTS

Interview responses revealed 4 themes with related subthemes: (1) The overnight medical intensive care unit environment does affect sleep, (2) nonenvironmental factors such as difficult emotions and anxiety also affect sleep, (3) respondents' perceptions about sleep quality in the medical intensive care unit were highly variable, and (4) suggestions for sleep improvement included reassuring patients and care-clustering strategies.

CONCLUSIONS

Results of this study suggest that environment is not the only factor influencing patients' sleep. Decreases in environmental sources of disturbance are necessary but not sufficient for sleep improvement. Guideline-recommended clustered care is needed to provide adequate sleep opportunity, but patients' emotions and anxiety also must be addressed.

The Feasibility and Utility of Continuous Sleep Monitoring in Critically Ill Patients Using a Portable Electroencephalography Monitor

BACKGROUND

Sleep disruption in critically ill adults can result in acute decrements in cognitive function, including delirium, but it is underdiagnosed in the setting of the intensive care unit (ICU). Although sleep stages can be assessed by polysomnography (PSG), acquisition and interpretation of PSG is costly, is labor intensive, is difficult to do over an extended period of time with critically ill patients (multiple days of continuous recording), and may interfere with patient care. In this pilot study, we investigated the feasibility and utility of monitoring sleep in the ICU setting using a portable electroencephalography (EEG) monitor, the SedLine brain monitor.

METHODS

We first performed a baseline comparison study of the SedLine brain monitor by comparing its recordings to PSG recorded in a sleep laboratory (n = 3). In a separate patient cohort, we enrolled patients in the ICU who were monitored continuously with the SedLine monitor for sleep disruption (n = 23). In all enrolled patients, we continuously monitored their EEG. The raw EEG was retrieved and sleep stages and arousals were analyzed by a board-certified technologist. Delirium was measured by a trained research nurse using the Confusion Assessment Method developed for the ICU.

RESULTS

For all enrolled patients, we continuously monitored their EEGs and were able to retrieve the raw EEGs for analysis of sleep stages. Overall, the SedLine brain monitor was able to differentiate sleep stages, as well as capture arousals and transitions between sleep stages compared with the PSG performed in the sleep laboratory. The percentage agreement was 67% for the wake stage, 77% for the non-rapid eye movement (REM) stage (N1 = 29%, N2 = 88%, and N3 = 6%), and 89% for the REM stage. The overall agreement was measured with the use of weighted kappa, which was 0.61, 95% confidence interval, 0.58 to 0.64. In the ICU study, the mean recording time for the 23 enrolled patients was 19.10 hours. There were several signs indicative of poor-quality sleep, where sleep was distributed throughout the day, with reduced time spent in REM (1.38% ± 2.74% of total sleep time), and stage N3 (2.17% ± 5.53% of total sleep time) coupled with a high arousal index (34.63 ± 19.04 arousals per hour). The occurrence of ICU delirium was not significantly different between patients with and without sleep disruption.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results suggest the utility of a portable EEG monitor to measure different sleep stages, transitions, and arousals; however, the accuracy in measuring different sleep stages by the SedLine monitor varies compared with PSG. Our results also support previous findings that sleep is fragmented in critically ill patients. Further research is necessary to develop portable EEG monitors that have higher agreement with PSG.

Factors Associated With Patient-Initiated Telephone Calls After Orthopaedic Trauma Surgery

OBJECTIVES

The primary aim of this study is to investigate the incidence of early patient-initiated postoperative telephone calls and reasons for those calls. Secondary goals are to determine perioperative predictive factors for calls including the procedures most frequently associated with them.

DESIGN

Retrospective chart review.

SETTING

Academic Level-1 Trauma Center.

PATIENTS/PARTICIPANTS

Six hundred eighty-four patients who underwent surgical treatment by our orthopaedic trauma division between 01/01/2014 and 31/12/2014.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS

Patient-initiated telephone call documented within 14 days after discharge.

RESULTS

Twenty-nine percent (n = 199) of patients initiated a telephone call within 14 days after discharge. The most common reasons for telephone calls were pain control (22%), bathing/dressing/wound questions (16%), and questions regarding discharge medications (8%). The procedures associated with the highest percentage of telephone calls were tibial shaft intramedullary nailing (36.0%), calcaneus open reduction internal fixation (31.3%), and cephalomedullary nailing for proximal femur fractures (29.3%). Perioperative factors predictive of an increase in phone calls included discharge directly to home, higher baseline level of health of the patient (based on comorbidities and the American Society for Anesthesiologists score), and a more robust support network (based on marital and employment status).

CONCLUSIONS

This study identifies the incidence and common reasons for patient-initiated calls after orthopaedic trauma surgery and an analysis of perioperative factors predictive of increased phone calls. These data give direction for communication at the time of discharge to improve efficiency, patient care, and patient satisfaction.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Prognostic Level IV. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Quality of sleep in patients undergoing cardiac surgery during the postoperative period in intensive care

OBJECTIVES

To describe the quality of sleep of patients undergoing cardiac surgery during the first two nights following surgery and identify some of the factors conditioning the nightly rest of these patients in the Intensive Care Unit.

METHOD

Observational descriptive study based on applying the Richards-Campbell Sleep Questionnaire through a consecutive sample of patients undergoing cardiac surgery with Intensive Care Unit admission. Simultaneously, a questionnaire assessing different environmental factors existing in the unit as possible conditioning of the night's rest was applied. The association between consumption of opioid and sleep quality was studied.

RESULTS

Sample of 66 patients with a mean age of 65±11.57 years, of which 73% were men (N=48). The Richards-Campbell sleep questionnaire garnered average scores of 50.33mm (1.st night) and 53.30mm (2.nd night). The main sleep disturbing factors were discomfort with the different devices, 30.91mm and pain, 30.18mm. The problems caused by environmental noise, 27.5mm or through the voices of the professionals, 26.53mm were also elements of nocturnal discomfort. No statistical association was found between sleep and the distance of the patient with respect to the nursing control area or related to opioid analgesics.

CONCLUSIONS

The quality of sleep during the first two nights of Intensive Care Unit admission was "regular". The environmental factors that conditioned the night-time rest of patients were discomfort, pain and ambient noise.

'Sorry, were you sleeping? Nurses' role in the promotion of sleep for critically ill patients

BACKGROUND

During critical illness sleep is important for immune function and restorative processes. Despite theoretical evidence and scientific understanding of the effects of sleep deprivation in the critically ill, research is yet to be entirely translated into institutional practices and department cultural norms.

OBJECTIVES

This article was adapted from an undergraduate essay that considered the nurse's role in addressing fragmented sleep in critical care patients'.

METHOD

The databases, PubMed, CINAHL and Science Direct were searched using the keywords sleep, critical care and nurs* resulting in the inclusion of 15 journal articles. Also utilised were nursing prescribed texts and professional websites.

RESULTS

Sleep deprivation has a multitude of intrinsic and extrinsic factors, however the healthcare environment has been established as the most common cause of sleep fragmentation.

CONCLUSIONS

A paradigm shift in nursing and institutional culture is required to implement sleep promotion research and strategies to minimise adverse outcomes for patients.

Rethinking the intensive care environment: considering nature in nursing practice

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

With consideration of an environmental concept, this paper explores evidence related to the negative impacts of the intensive care unit environment on patient outcomes and explores the potential counteracting benefits of 'nature-based' nursing interventions as a way to improve care outcomes.

BACKGROUND

The impact of the environment in which a patient is nursed has long been recognised as one determinant in patient outcomes. Whilst the contemporary intensive care unit environment contains many features that support the provision of the intensive therapies the patient requires, it can also be detrimental, especially for long-stay patients.

DESIGN

This narrative review considers theoretical and evidence-based literature that supports the adoption of nature-based nursing interventions in intensive care units.

METHODS

Research and theoretical literature from a diverse range of disciplines including nursing, medicine, psychology, architecture and environmental science were considered in relation to patient outcomes and intensive care nursing practice.

CONCLUSION

There are many nature-based interventions that intensive care unit nurses can implement into their nursing practice to counteract environmental stressors. These interventions can also improve the environment for patients' families and nurses.

RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE

Intensive care unit nurses must actively consider and manage the environment in which nursing occurs to facilitate the best patient outcomes.

Perceived and actual noise levels in critical care units

PURPOSE

To compare the noise levels perceived by critical care nurses in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) to actual noise levels in the ICU.

METHODS

Following a pilot study (n=18) and revision of the survey tool, a random sample of nurses were surveyed twice in a 3-day period (n=108). Nurses perception of noise was compared to the actual sound pressure level using descriptive statistics.

MAJOR RESULTS

Nurses perceived the ICUs to be noisier than the actual values. The ICU was louder than the recommended noise level for resotrative sleep. This finding raises the question of how we can assist nurses to reduce what they perceive to be a loud environment.

APPLICATION

Future work is needed to develop interventions specifically for nurses to raise awareness of noise in the ICU and to provide them with skills to assist in noise reduction.

Reliability and validity of the Chinese version of the behavioral pain scale in intubated and non-intubated critically ill patients: Two cross-sectional studies

BACKGROUND

Self-report pain assessment scales may be inappropriate when critically ill patients are incapable of adequate communication because of sedation or mechanical ventilation. The Behavioral Pain Scale (BPS, for intubated patients) and the BPS-non intubated (BPS-NI, for non-intubated patients) measure objective behavioral indicators of pain in non-communicating critically ill patients.

OBJECTIVES

To develop a Chinese version of the BPS combining the original version of the BPS and BPS-NI suitable for pain assessment among critically ill patients and to determine its reliability and validity.

DESIGN

Two cross-sectional studies.

SETTINGS

A 15-bed surgical intensive care unit (ICU) in a teaching hospital in Beijing, China.

PARTICIPANTS

In the first study, 129 patients (53 intubated and 76 non-intubated) were recruited; in the second study, 83 (43 intubated and 40 non-intubated) were recruited.

METHODS

The Chinese version of the BPS (BPS-C) was developed via rigorous translation methods, including double back-translation and content validation involving 13 clinical experts. Internal consistency, discriminative validity, and criterion-related validity were established using the BPS-C and the Numeric Rating Scale (NRS). The BPS-C and NRS were used to assess pain in 53 intubated and 76 non-intubated post-abdominal surgery patients during low pain exposure and increased pain exposure in the first study. To establish interrater reliability, a researcher and a bedside nurse independently performed 172 paired assessments in 43 intubated patients and 160 paired assessments in 40 non-intubated patients with the BPS-C under the same conditions in the second study.

RESULTS

The BPS-C achieved conceptual and semantic equivalence with the original tool. Internal consistency was established through Cronbach's alpha (α=0.724-0.743 in intubated patients, α=0.701-0.762 in non-intubated patients). Interrater reliability was confirmed through the intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs), which ranged from 0.962 to 1.000 in both intubated and non-intubated patients with high agreement percentages (95.3-100.0% in intubated and 95.0-100.0% in non-intubated patients). BPS-C scores during increased exposure to pain were significantly higher than those obtained during low exposure to pain, indicating discriminative validity. Criterion-related validity was confirmed by strong positive correlations between BPS-C and NRS scores (Pearson's correlations r=0.815-0.937 for intubated patients, Pearson's correlations r=0.755-0.899 for non-intubated patients).

CONCLUSIONS

The Chinese version of the BPS (BPS-C) is appropriate for pain assessment among intubated and non-intubated ICU patients.

Quiet time for mechanically ventilated patients in the medical intensive care unit

OBJECTIVE

Sleep disruption occurs frequently in critically ill patients. The primary aim of this study was to examine the effect of quiet time (QT) on patient sedation frequency, sedation and delirium scores; and to determine if consecutive QTs influenced physiologic measures (heart rate, mean arterial blood pressure and respiratory rate).

METHOD

A prospective study of a quiet time protocol was conducted with 72 adult patients on mechanical ventilation.

SETTING

A Medical Intensive Care Unit (MICU) in the Midwest region of the United States.

RESULTS

Sedation was given less frequently after QT (p=0.045). Those who were agitated prior to QT were more likely to be at goal sedation after QT (p<0.001). Although not statistically significant, the majority of patients who were negative on the Confusion Assessment Method (CAM-ICU) prior to QT remained delirium free after QT. Repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) for three consecutive QTs showed a significant difference for respiratory rate (p=0.035).

CONCLUSION

QT may influence sedation administration and promote patient rest. Future studies are required to further understand the influence of QT on mechanically ventilated patients in the intensive care unit.

A prospective analysis of sleep deprivation and disturbance in surgical patients

Introduction

Sleep deprivation has a potentially deleterious effect on postoperative recovery. The aim of our prospective study was to identify the factors contributing to postoperative sleep deprivation and disturbance in order to recommend improvements in postoperative care.

Methods

102 consecutive patients attending for elective general and orthopaedic surgery were interviewed preoperatively (baseline) and postoperatively on their duration of sleep, number of wakenings during the night, factors contributing to sleep loss and the use of analgesia and night sedation.

Results

Patients woke up a median of 5 times in the first postoperative night compared to a median of 3 times preoperatively (p = 0.01). Pain was the predominant factor preventing sleep, affecting 39% of patients preoperatively and 48% of patients on the first postoperative day. Other factors included noise from other patients and nursing staff, and using the toilet. Analgesia was taken by more than 90% of patients in the first two days, this number gradually reducing over the postoperative period. On the other hand, in the first two postoperative days, only about 5% of patients had night sedation.

Discussion and conclusions

Apart from highlighting the need for effective pain management postoperatively, we believe that our study supports the drive towards single bed bays, where steps can be taken to minimize the impact of environmental factors on sleep.

•

This study is a prospective questionnaire survey of 102 surgical patients who procedures over a set time period.

•

The aim of the study was to determine factors contributing to sleep deprivation postoperatively on a surgical ward.

•

Unexpectedly, patients were not sleep deprived postoperatively but slept more during the daytime.

•

Pain and noise were the main factors contributing to sleep deprivation.

•

The authors then conclude that their study supports a drive towards single bed bays.

Knowledge of nurses about delirium in critical patients: collective subject discourse

This is an exploratory, descriptive and qualitative study with the aim of analyzing the knowledge of nurses in an intensive care unit about delirium in critically ill patients. Study participants were fourteen ICU nurses from a public hospital. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and analyzed using the Collective Subject Discourse technique. Five features were identified after data analysis: signs and symptoms, use of sedatives, physical restraint, environment and lack of professional preparation. It was found that nurses have doubts concerning delirium, its management in intensive care, the use of scales and nursing interventions. This study points to the need for education on the subject and further research on the management of delirium in nursing.

Effects of earplugs and eye masks combined with relaxing music on sleep, melatonin and cortisol levels in ICU patients: a randomized controlled trial

Introduction

Intensive care unit (ICU) environmental factors such as noise and light have been cited as important causes of sleep deprivation in critically ill patients. Previous studies indicated that using earplugs and eye masks can improve REM sleep in healthy subjects in simulated ICU environment, and improve sleep quality in ICU patients. This study aimed to determine the effects of using earplugs and eye masks with relaxing background music on sleep, melatonin and cortisol levels in ICU patients.

Methods

Fifty patients who underwent a scheduled cardiac surgery and were expected to stay at least 2 nights in Cardiac Surgical ICU (CSICU) were included. They were randomized to sleep with or without earplugs and eye masks combined with 30-minute relaxing music during the postoperative nights in CSICU. Urine was analyzed for nocturnal melatonin and cortisol levels. Subjective sleep quality was evaluated using the Chinese version of Richards-Campbell Sleep Questionnaire (a visual analog scale, ranging 0–100).

Results

Data from 45 patients (20 in intervention group, 25 in control group) were analyzed. Significant differences were found between groups in depth of sleep, falling asleep, awakenings, falling asleep again after awakening and overall sleep quality (P < 0.05). Perceived sleep quality was better in the intervention group. No group differences were found in urinary melatonin levels and cortisol levels for the night before surgery, and the first and second nights post-surgery (P > 0.05). The urinary melatonin levels of the first and second postoperative nights were significantly lower than those of the night before surgery (P = 0.01). The opposite pattern was seen with urinary cortisol levels (P = 0.00).

Conclusion

This combination of non-pharmacological interventions is useful for promoting sleep in ICU adult patients; however, any influence on nocturnal melatonin levels and cortisol level may have been masked by several factors such as the timing of surgery, medication use and individual differences. Larger scale studies would be needed to examine the potential influences of these factors on biological markers and intervention efficacy on sleep.

Trial registration

Chinese Clinical Trial Registry: ChiCTR-IOR-14005511. Registered 21 November 2014.

The influence of environmental factors on sleep quality in hospitalized medical patients

Introduction: Sleep–wake disturbances are common in hospitalized patients but few studies have assessed them systematically. The aim of the present study was to assess sleep quality in a group of medical inpatients, in relation to environmental factors, and the switch to daylight-saving time.

Methods: Between March and April 2013, 118 consecutive inpatients were screened and 99 (76 ± 11 years; hospitalization: 8 ± 7 days) enrolled. They slept in double or quadruple rooms, facing South/South-East, and were qualified as sleeping near/far from the window. They underwent daily sleep assessment by standard questionnaires/diaries. Illuminance was measured by a luxmeter at each patient’s eye-level, four times per day. Noise was measured at the same times by a phonometer. Information was recorded on room lighting, position of the rolling shutters and number/type of extra people in the room.

Results: Compliance with sleep-wake assessment was poor, with a range of completion of 2–59%, depending on the questionnaires. Reported sleep quality was sufficient and sleep timing dictated by hospital routine; 33% of the patients reported one/more sleepless nights. Illuminance was generally low, and rolling shutters half-way down for most of the 24 h. Patients who slept near the window were exposed to more light in the morning (i.e., 222 ± 72 vs. 174 ± 85 lux, p < 0.05 before the switch; 198 ± 72 vs. 141 ± 137 lux, p < 0.01 after the switch) and tended to sleep better (7.3 ± 1.8 vs. 5.8 ± 2.4 on a 1–10 scale, before the switch, p < 0.05; 7.7 ± 2.3 vs. 6.6 ± 1.8, n.s. after the switch). Noise levels were higher than recommended for care units but substantially comparable across times/room types. No significant differences were observed in sleep parameters before/after the switch.

Conclusion: Medical wards appear to be noisy environments, in which limited attention is paid to light/dark hygiene. An association was observed between sleep quality and bed position/light exposure, which is worthy of further study.

Association between short sleep and body mass index, hypertension among acute coronary syndrome patients in coronary care unit

INTRODUCTION

Patients with coronary diseases admitted to special care unit often suffer from sleep disorders, which may cause physiological changes and adversely affect patient's health. The relationship between sleep disorders and obesity is an important factor in studies on sleep disorders and other chronic diseases in all groups, including cardiovascular diseases. Understanding this relationship may increase the chance of progress in effective medical interventions in sleep disorders and obesity. This study was designed to evaluate the association between short sleep and Body Mass Index (BMI), hypertension among acute coronary syndrome patients.

MATERIALS & METHODS

In this descriptive analytical study, 221 coronary patients admitted to coronary care unit and general wards were investigated. Data were collected through a researcher-made questionnaire whose validity and reliability had been confirmed. Data were analyzed with SPSS-16 software.

RESULTS

A total of 221 patients with acute coronary diseases (including myocardial infarction and angina pectoris) with a mean age of 61.27 years were studied, of whom 61.5% were male and 38.5% were female. A significant association was observed between short sleep and higher BMI (P=0.000). About half the patients (49.3%) had a history of hypertension, and sleep disorders were also significantly related to hypertension (P=0.006).

DISCUSSION

In this study, sleep disorders were patients' main complaint. Researchers found that patients with less than 5 hours or more than 9 hours sleep at night were more likely to have hypertension compared to patients that slept 7-8 hours. Lack of sleep affects metabolism, and daily energy expenditure reduces with increased immobility. In this study, a significant relationship was observed between BMI and sleep duration among hospitalized patients in coronary care unit (P=0.000), and sleep disorders increased with higher BMI. Short of sleep increases sympathetic tonus, cortisol level, and activation of inflammatory pathways, impairing glucose metabolism and contributing to overweigh, increased visceral fat.

CONCLUSION

Our findings suggest that poor sleep quality, is related to higher BMI and hypertension among acute coronary syndrome patients.

Feasibility and acceptability of hand massage therapy for pain management of postoperative cardiac surgery patients in the intensive care unit

OBJECTIVE

The purpose was to evaluate the acceptability and feasibility of hand massage therapy in the intensive care unit (ICU).

BACKGROUND

Clinical guidelines suggest the use of non-pharmacological interventions for pain management in ICU adults. The results presented are secondary to a pilot RCT evaluating the preliminary effectiveness of hand massage on pain after cardiac surgery.

METHODS

A qualitative descriptive design was used. Acceptability was evaluated using individual interviews with participants in both groups i.e., experimental and control (n = 40). Feasibility was examined using field notes and video recordings.

RESULTS

While participants receiving the massage perceived it as appropriate, the control group suggested different dosages of the treatment and body areas targeted. Results also suggest that barriers (e.g. noise, numerous clinical activities) need to be overcome.

CONCLUSIONS

Increasing staff acceptance, reducing the rest period, involving families, and repeating the treatment are avenues to consider. Building evidence for non-pharmacological pain management in the critical care setting is necessary.

Sleep disturbance in older ICU patients

Maintaining a stable and adequate sleeping pattern is associated with good health and disease prevention. As a restorative process, sleep is important for supporting immune function and aiding the body in healing and recovery. Aging is associated with characteristic changes to sleep quantity and quality, which make it more difficult to adjust sleep–wake rhythms to changing environmental conditions. Sleep disturbance and abnormal sleep–wake cycles are commonly reported in seriously ill older patients in the intensive care unit (ICU). A combination of intrinsic and extrinsic factors appears to contribute to these disruptions. Little is known regarding the effect that sleep disturbance has on health status in the oldest of old (80+), a group, who with diminishing physiological reserve and increasing prevalence of frailty, is at a greater risk of adverse health outcomes, such as cognitive decline and mortality. Here we review how sleep is altered in the ICU, with particular attention to older patients, especially those aged ≥80 years. Further work is required to understand what impact sleep disturbance has on frailty levels and poor outcomes in older critically ill patients.

Intensive care unit depth of sleep: proof of concept of a simple electroencephalography index in the non-sedated

INTRODUCTION

Intensive care unit (ICU) patients are known to experience severely disturbed sleep, with possible detrimental effects on short- and long- term outcomes. Investigation into the exact causes and effects of disturbed sleep has been hampered by cumbersome and time consuming methods of measuring and staging sleep. We introduce a novel method for ICU depth of sleep analysis, the ICU depth of sleep index (IDOS index), using single channel electroencephalography (EEG) and apply it to outpatient recordings. A proof of concept is shown in non-sedated ICU patients.

METHODS

Polysomnographic (PSG) recordings of five ICU patients and 15 healthy outpatients were analyzed using the IDOS index, based on the ratio between gamma and delta band power. Manual selection of thresholds was used to classify data as either wake, sleep or slow wave sleep (SWS). This classification was compared to visual sleep scoring by Rechtschaffen & Kales criteria in normal outpatient recordings and ICU recordings to illustrate face validity of the IDOS index.

RESULTS

When reduced to two or three classes, the scoring of sleep by IDOS index and manual scoring show high agreement for normal sleep recordings. The obtained overall agreements, as quantified by the kappa coefficient, were 0.84 for sleep/wake classification and 0.82 for classification into three classes (wake, non-SWS and SWS). Sensitivity and specificity were highest for the wake state (93% and 93%, respectively) and lowest for SWS (82% and 76%, respectively). For ICU recordings, agreement was similar to agreement between visual scorers previously reported in literature.

CONCLUSIONS

Besides the most satisfying visual resemblance with manually scored normal PSG recordings, the established face-validity of the IDOS index as an estimator of depth of sleep was excellent. This technique enables real-time, automated, single channel visualization of depth of sleep, facilitating the monitoring of sleep in the ICU.

Validity and reliability of behavioral pain scale in patients with low level of consciousness due to head trauma hospitalized in intensive care unit

BACKGROUND

Estimating pain in patients of intensive care unit (ICU) is essential, but because of their special situation, verbal scales cannot be used. Therefore, to estimate the level of pain, behavioral pain scale was developed by Payen in 2001.

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study was to investigate the validity and reliability of behavioral pain scale in patients with low level of consciousness due to head trauma hospitalized in ICU.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

This descriptive prospective study was performed in Yazd in 2013. In this study, fifty patients, including thirteen women and thirty seven men, were involved. To collect the data a questionnaire including demographic and Glasgow coma scale (GCS) information as well as a list of behavioral pain scale (BPS) were used. SPSS software (version 18) was used to analyze the data.

RESULTS

There was no significant difference in reliability proving of average score of BPS recorded by two day and night assessors (P > 5). Cronbach's alpha was 85 for painful procedures and 76 for non-painful procedures. In addition, known groups' technique (painful and non-painful procedures) was used to assess validity. The average scores were 7.75 during painful procedures and 3.28 during non-painful procedures (P = 0.001). The results stated that BPS scores during these two procedures were significantly different.

CONCLUSIONS

BPS in patients with low level of consciousness due to head trauma has strong reliability and validity. Therefore, this scale can be used for patients hospitalized in ICU to assess the level of pain.

Development and Validation of Sleep Disturbance Questionnaire in Patients with Acute Coronary Syndrome

Background and Objectives. Severe sleep disturbance is a common problem among patients in cardiac care units (CCUs). There are questionnaires to measure sleep disturbances. Therefore, the present study seeks to design a valid and reliable questionnaire to assess sleep disturbance in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) hospitalized in CCUs. Materials and Methods. In the present methodological research, items of the questionnaire were extracted through a systematic review. The validity and reliability of the questionnaires was assessed by face validity, content validity, construct validity, Cronbach's alpha coefficient, and test-retest methods. Results. Factor analysis provided a questionnaire of 23 items on 5 dimensions of sleep disturbance in coronary patients: “sleep onset and continuity disorder,” “disorder in daytime functioning,” “sleep disturbance caused by environmental factors,” “sleep disturbance as a result of cardiac diseases,” and “respiratory disorders during sleep.” Furthermore, test-retest analysis showed a reliability correlation coefficient of r = 0.766 and α Cronbach's reliability (α = 0.855). Conclusion. Sleep disturbance questionnaire for patients with ACS hospitalized in coronary care unit (CCU) was identified in 5 dimensions and assessed for validity and reliability. To control and improve the sleep quality of CCU hospitalized patients, we need to identify and remove predisposing factors.