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796
A Sleep Hygiene and Relaxation Intervention for Children With Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia: A Pilot Randomized
Sue Zupanec1, Heather Jones, Lyndsey McRae
1Author Affiliations: Division of Haematology/Oncology (SickKids) (Mss Zupanec and Jones) and Division of Neurosurgery, Neurology, & Trauma (Ms McRae), The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids); Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Ontario Institute of Technology (Dr Papaconstantinou), Oshawa; Lawrence S. Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada (Ms Weston and Dr Stremler).
Cancer Nursing
|December 7, 2016
Summary
This pilot study found that a sleep hygiene and relaxation program was feasible and acceptable for children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). The intervention showed promising improvements in sleep for pediatric cancer patients undergoing treatment.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Oncology
- Sleep Medicine
- Behavioral Interventions
Background:
- Sleep disturbances and fatigue are prevalent and challenging side effects for children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL).
- Existing recommendations for sleep hygiene and relaxation techniques have not been evaluated in home settings for pediatric ALL patients.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the feasibility and acceptability of a home-based sleep hygiene and relaxation intervention for children with ALL receiving maintenance chemotherapy.
- To collect preliminary sleep and fatigue data to inform future large-scale trials.
Main Methods:
- A pilot randomized controlled trial involving 20 children with ALL.
- The intervention group received education on sleep strategies and used storybooks for relaxation techniques.
- Sleep was objectively measured using actigraphy, and fatigue was assessed with the Childhood Cancer Fatigue Scale.
Main Results:
- The sleep intervention and data collection methods were found to be feasible and acceptable to families.
- While not statistically significant, the intervention group showed clinically meaningful improvements in nighttime sleep duration and reduced wake time after sleep onset.
Conclusions:
- This pilot study successfully demonstrated the feasibility and acceptability of a sleep hygiene and relaxation intervention for pediatric patients with ALL undergoing maintenance chemotherapy.
- The observed improvements in sleep warrant further investigation in a larger, powered randomized controlled trial.
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