title: Nursing Interactions With Intensive Care Unit Patients Affected by Sleep Deprivation: An Observational Study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Patients in intensive care units (ICUs) often experience sleep deprivation due to different factors. Its consequences are damaging both physiologically and psychologically. This study focuses particularly on nursing interactions as the main factor involved in sleep deprivation issues.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aims of this study were to examine the frequency, pattern, and types of nocturnal care interactions with patients in the respiratory and cardiology ICUs; analyze the relationship between these interactions and patients' variables (age, sex, recovery diagnosis, and acuity of care); and analyze the differences in patterns of nocturnal care interactions among the units.
  
  
  METHODS
  This is an observational retrospective study that analyzes the frequency, pattern, and types of nocturnal care interactions with patients between 7 PM and 6 AM recording data in the activity data sheets.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Data consisted of 93 data assessment sheets. The mean number of care interactions per night was 18.65 (SD, 3.71). In both ICUs, interactions were most frequent at 7 PM, 10 PM, and 6 AM. Only 8 uninterrupted sleep periods occurred. Frequency of interactions correlated significantly with patients' acuity scores and the number of nurse interventions in both ICUs.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Patients in ICUs have fragmented sleep patterns. This study underlines the need to develop new management approaches to promote and maintain sleep.
authors.affiliation: Gian Domenico Giusti, MSN, RN, is staff nurse in Intensive Care Unit, Perugia Hospital, Italy, and lecturer, emergency and critical care nursing, University of Perugia, Italy. Debora Tuteri, RN, is staff nurse, School of Nursing, University of Perugia, Italy. Mirella Giontella, MSN, RN, is head nurse and lecturer in pediatric nursing and general nursing, School of Nursing, University of Perugia, Italy.
authors.forename: Gian Domenico
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Giusti
authors.forename: Debora
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Tuteri
authors.forename: Mirella
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Giontella
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D064648:Critical Care Nursing; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D007558:Italy; D008297:Male; D009551:Night Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D062072:Patient Acuity; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012892:Sleep Deprivation / Q000209:etiology*