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Sleep Disturbance in Family Caregivers of Children who Depend on Medical Technology Compared to Family Caregivers of Healthy Children: The CARE to SLEEP Study

Year: 2015
Type: dissertation
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Background/Rationale: Society relies on family caregivers of children who depend on medical technology (e.g., home ventilation) to provide highly skilled and vigilant care up to 24 hours per day. Few studies exist that have measured sleep in family caregivers, and those that do have relied entirely on subjective measures. These data suggest that sleep disruption places family caregivers at risk for poor health and related outcomes that may impair their daytime function and long-term capacity for caregiving. Objectives/Research Questions: The primary aim of this study was to compare sleep and related outcomes in family caregivers of children who depend on medical technology to outcomes in family caregivers of healthy children.Methods: In a prospective cohort study (balanced per child's age), 42 family caregivers of children who depend on medical technology from a tertiary-level paediatric hospital and 43 controls from community-based paediatric clinics were recruited. Actigraphy was used for 6 days and 7 nights, and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) was applied to collect sleep data. At home visits, sleep diaries were collected and measures of depression (CES-D), daytime sleepiness (ESS), fatigue (MAF), quality of life (SF-12TM), sleep hygiene (SHI), and child's sleep habits (CSHQ) were administered.Results: Family caregivers of children who depend on medical technology achieved 40 minutes less sleep per night (6.56 [1.4h] vs. 7.21 [0.6], p = .02), had more nocturnal awakenings (8.00 [3.9] vs.6.01 [3.7], p = .02), and had more sleep deprived (
Language: English
Field: Psychology
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W2343009987
Cites: 224
Cited by: 2
Related to: 10