Subjective sleep quality among hospitalised adult patients: An observational, cross-sectional study

Background Inpatient sleep quality is influenced by multiple factors including medical conditions, use of medication and the ward environment. Without adequate rest, detrimental effects on patients’ physical and psychological performances may persist, inhibiting recovery and increasing length of stay. Objective This study examined the sleep quality of adult inpatients and its’ associations with sociodemographic, clinical and environmental factors. Methods An observational study was conducted in the medical wards of an acute care hospital in Singapore from July to December 2018. Patients completed the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) to establish baseline sleeping habits and the Richards-Campbell Sleep Questionnaire (RCSQ) to assess perception of sleep quality during hospitalisation. Noise levels were measured using the SL-4023SD sound level meter. Environmental factors affecting sleep were also recorded. Results 52 patients were recruited reported a mean RCSQ score of 5.83 (SD = 2.31) and mean Global PSQI score was 6.06 (SD = 3.33), indicative of poor baseline sleep. The highest mean noise level presented with an average reading of 80 dB, surpassing the WHO recommended noise levels by two times. Subjective sleep quality was not affected by demographic, clinical factors and bed locations. Patients exposed to night lamps reported a reduction in sleep quality (p = .04). Conclusions Recognising the importance of overall sleep quality and the identification of external factors influencing patients’ sleep quality during hospitalisation is a vital step towards developing successful interventions to promote good sleep hygiene in the general wards of the Asian context.