title: Perceived effectiveness of diverse sleep treatments in older adults.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe the different methods that older adults use to treat sleep problems and the perceived effectiveness of these methods.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional study of treatment patterns for sleep disorders using a mailed questionnaire that gathered information concerning sleep history, demographics, and treatment choices.
  
  
  METHODS
  Community.
  
  
  METHODS
  Community-based sample of adults aged 65 and older, of whom 242 responded (67% response rate).
  
  
  METHODS
  Standardized questionnaires to assess sleep parameters (Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index), demographic information, and sleep treatment options.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Study participants engaged in a variety of treatment regimens to improve their sleep, with the average number of treatments attempted being 4.8±2.9. The most commonly used interventions were watching television or listening to the radio (66.4%) and reading (56.2%). The most commonly used pharmacotherapy was pain medication (40.1%). Prescription sleeping pills had the greatest self-reported effectiveness. Approximately half of all study participants who used alcohol or over-the-counter sleep aids had not discussed their sleep problems with their doctor.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Older adults frequently choose treatments for their sleep problems that can potentially worsen their sleep symptoms. Many patients have not spoken to their healthcare provider about their treatment choices. These findings highlight the importance of discussing sleep habits and self-treatment choices, as well as treating sleep disorders, in older adults.
authors.affiliation: Division of Geriatric Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. ngoonera@mail.med.upenn.edu
authors.forename: Nalaka S
authors.initials: NS
authors.lastname: Gooneratne
authors.forename: Ashdin
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tavaria
authors.forename: Nirav
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Patel
authors.forename: Lavanya
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Madhusudan
authors.forename: Divani
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Nadaraja
authors.forename: Fannie
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Onen
authors.forename: Kathy C
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Richards
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010414:Pennsylvania / Q000453:epidemiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D012893:Sleep Wake Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome