Sleep characteristics in hospitalized antepartum patients.
OBJECTIVE
To describe sleep characteristics in high-risk antepartum inpatients.


METHODS
Prospective descriptive design.


METHODS
Tertiary hospital in southern California.


METHODS
A convenience sample of 39 antepartum women.


METHODS
Data were collected from participants' medical records, questionnaires (General Sleep Disturbance Scale), actigraphy on days 3 to 4 after admission, and a sleep diary that included reasons for awakening and morning and evening fatigue ratings.


RESULTS
Week gestation ranged from 24 to 35 weeks. Sleep time varied from 310 to 492 minutes and averaged 6.7 hours/night. The women were awakened 9 to 32 times/night and averaged 18 awakenings. They napped an average of 124 minutes throughout the day. Women averaged 3.9 on the General Sleep Disturbance Scale when retrospectively considering 7 days before hospitalization and scored 4.1 when considering the current 3 days of hospitalization. In the diary, most rated their sleep quality as Fairly Good or Very Good (62%-71%), but 29% said Very Bad on night 2, and 38% said Very Bad on night 3.


CONCLUSIONS
Frequent interruptions during the night do not allow for mothers to receive the restorative sleep they need.
Gallo
Ana-Maria
AM
Research and Professional Development Department of Nursing Administration, Sharp Grossmont Hospital, La Mesa, CA 91942, USA. ana-maria.gallo@sharp.com
Lee
Kathryn A
KA
D000328:Adult; D001294:Attitude to Health; D001510:Bed Rest / Q000523:psychology; D002140:California; D005260:Female; D006272:Health Facility Environment; D006771:Hospitals, Maternity; D006801:Humans; D007297:Inpatients / Q000523:psychology*; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D010865:Pilot Projects; D017286:Polysomnography; D011247:Pregnancy; D018566:Pregnancy, High-Risk / Q000523:psychology*; D011295:Prenatal Care; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012892:Sleep Deprivation / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology*; D012893:Sleep Wake Disorders; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors