title: Sleep disturbances in hospitalized patients with cancer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe the relationship between nocturnal disturbances and sleep (length and quality) in hospitalized patients with cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  Descriptive, correlational.
  
  
  METHODS
  A regional oncology center located in a large teaching hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty hospitalized patients with cancer (58% female, x age = 48 years), all with solid tumors.
  
  
  METHODS
  The investigator observed and recorded the number and characteristics of nocturnal disturbances using the Sleep Environment Observation Tool and the Taxonomy of Patient Participation. Patients completed the Verran and Snyder-Halpern Sleep Scale, which measures perceived sleep length and quality.
  
  
  METHODS
  Number and timing of nocturnal disturbances, patient participation in care, sleep length, and sleep quality.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Number and total duration of nocturnal disturbances as well as level of patient participation in nocturnal care were negatively correlated with sleep quality. Sleep length was not correlated with any other variable.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Nocturnal disturbances had a negative effect on sleep quality.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The number and duration of disturbances and the level of patient participation in care should be minimized during nighttime hours.
authors.affiliation: School of Hygiene and Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA.
authors.forename: L C
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Sheely
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000150:complications; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000150:complications; D008228:Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin / Q000150:complications; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000451:nursing; D009511:New England; D009551:Night Care; D012893:Sleep Wake Disorders / Q000209:etiology* / Q000451:nursing