title: Efficacy of Sleep Tool Education During Hospitalization: A Randomized Controlled Trial.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Patients are commonly provided tools in the hospital to overcome poor sleep. Whether education on use of sleep tools can impact health outcomes from a patient perspective is not known.
  
  
  METHODS
  We recruited 120 adults admitted to a nonintensive care unit cardiac-monitored floor. All patients received a set of sleep-enhancing tools (eye mask, ear plugs, and a white noise machine) and were randomized to receive direct education on use of and benefit of these sleep-enhancing tools (intervention), or an equal amount of time was spent discussing general benefits of sleep (control). Measurement of several symptom domains was assessed daily by health outcome survey responses, and change from baseline was assessed for differences between groups. Inpatient opioid use and length of stay were also measured.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Participants randomized to receive the education intervention had a significantly greater decrease in fatigue scores over the 3 days, compared with controls (5.30 ± 6.93 vs 1.81 ± 6.96, t = 2.32, P = .028). There was a trend toward improvements in multiple other sleep-related domains, including sleep disturbance, sleep-related impairment, physical functioning, pain severity, or pain interference (all P >.140). There was no difference in length of stay between intervention and control groups (7.40 ± 7.29 vs 7.71 ± 6.06 days, P = .996). The change in number of opioid equivalents taken did not differ use between the groups (P = .688).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In a randomized trial of education in the use of sleep-enhancing tools while hospitalized, patient fatigue was significantly improved, whereas several other patient-reported outcomes showed a trend toward improvements. Implementation of this very low-cost approach to improving sleep and well-being could substantially improve the patient care experience.
authors: Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan Health Systems, Ann Arbor. Electronic address: pfarrehi@umich.edu.
authors: Peter M
authors: PM
authors: Farrehi
authors: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of Michigan Health Systems, Ann Arbor.
authors: Kristen R
authors: KR
authors: Clore
authors: Department of Anesthesiology, University of Michigan Health Systems, Ann Arbor.
authors: J Ryan
authors: JR
authors: Scott
authors: Department of Anesthesiology, University of Michigan Health Systems, Ann Arbor.
authors: Giancarlo
authors: G
authors: Vanini
authors: Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan Health Systems, Ann Arbor; Department of Anesthesiology, University of Michigan Health Systems, Ann Arbor.
authors: Daniel J
authors: DJ
authors: Clauw
mesh_terms: D002300:Cardiac Care Facilities; D005260:Female; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007297:Inpatients / Q000193:education*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010043:Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000379:methods; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012893:Sleep Wake Disorders / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000628:therapy*
keywords: Health care survey; Patient outcome assessment; Sleep