[Non-pharmacological treatment of hospital patients with sleeping problems - the nurse perspective]

Non-pharmacological treatment of hospital patients with sleeping problems - the nurse perspective Abstract.

Elderly patients suffer from sleep disturbances during hospitalization. These patients often receive hypnotics and sedatives; despite of the known risks and although non-pharmacological treatments are available.

The study investigates the experiences of nurses when using non-pharmacological treatments for elderly patients with sleeping problems.

Semi-structured interviews with 13 nurses from a general hospital were analyzed according to Mayring's qualitative content analysis.

Nurses used a variety of non-pharmacological treatments for elderly inpatients with sleeping problems: (1) structural measures (regulation of temperature and light), (2) organizational measures (more time for conversation during the nightshift), (3) nursing measures (asking about night-time routines) and (4) household remedies. From the nurses' perspective, the more intensive contact required when applying non-pharmacological treatments can lead to higher patient satisfaction and a lower bell frequency during the night shift. Barriers result from limited time and personnel, a lack of standards and individual patient needs.

Nurses know several kinds of non-pharmacological treatments to help elderly inpatients sleep better. A lack of resources as well as a lack of professional consensus about the treatment of temporary sleeping disturbances can be an obstacle to their use. A professional climate should restrict the use of drugs for sleeping problems as far as possible.