Staff and Patient Perceptions of Sleep Promotion in the Hospital Setting: A Quality Improvement Project

Background Studies have shown that interventions such as education and sleep tools help reduce sleep disturbances in the hospital setting. Methods Researchers aimed to understand patient satisfaction and staff perceptions of the feasibility of implementing sleep hygiene interventions. Patients and staff from the neurological intensive care and step-down units in a level I trauma center were interviewed pre-and-post sleep hygiene intervention completed by a doctoral occupational therapy student and practitioner mentor. Inductive content analysis was used to categorize the qualitative data into themes. Results Pre-intervention interviews revealed three commonalities: 1) inconsistencies in sleep hygiene knowledge; 2) environmental barriers to sleep; and 3) importance of comfort. Post-intervention interviews revealed four themes: 1) patients’ sleep hygiene needs were addressed; 2) external factors limiting sleep hygiene programming, 3) adaptability and patient-centered care, and 4) staff feasibility of implementation of sleep interventions. Discussion The positive outcomes of this quality of improvement project led to the integration of sleep hygiene as a standard practice within a level 1 trauma center hospital. Occupational therapy practitioners must continue to advance the profession by meeting the whole needs of our patients, including sleep hygiene. Future research is needed to determine the long-term compliance and perceptions of feasibility at this site and other hospitals.