Related Experiment Video
Updated: Nov 3, 2025

Quantifying Infra-slow Dynamics of Spectral Power and Heart Rate in Sleeping Mice
Published on: August 2, 2017
Is it Noise? Factors Linked With Sleep Interruption in Hospitalized Patients
Candace Mori1, Karrie Boss, Patty Indermuhle
1Author Affiliations: Director of Advanced Practice Nursing and Nursing Education (Dr Mori) and Clinical Nurse Specialist (Boss, Indermuhle, and Stahl), Wooster Community Hospital Health System; and Associate Professor (Dr Chiu) and Associate Professor and Assistant Director of Graduate Programs and Research (Dr Shanks), The University of Akron School of Nursing, Ohio.
Purpose/Aim:
The aim of this study was to explore the perceived quality of sleep and sleep disturbances in hospitalized patients.
Design:
A prospective descriptive, exploratory, cross-sectional study was conducted at a 172-bed community hospital in Northeast Ohio. A convenient sample of 100 hospitalized patients was recruited from medical/surgical, progressive care, and intensive care units.
Methods:
Participants used the Richards-Campbell Sleep Questionnaire to report sleep. A quality of sleep assessment survey was used to collect information regarding 17 factors leading to decreased quality of sleep.
Results:
Mean sleep score was 47.92 for each question regarding sleep depth, latency, awakenings, time spent awake, and overall sleep quality. Pearson's correlation showed a significantly positive correlation between measure of noise and sleep score. Five environmental factors were identified as most disruptive to sleep: pain, laboratory draws, staff, blood pressure checks, and intravenous alarms.
Conclusion:
The positive correlation between sleeping well and higher noise levels is noteworthy. Raising awareness about the importance of sleep in the hospital setting and introducing interventions to promote a quiet environment and minimize sleep-disturbing factors may increase patient satisfaction scores and improve healing.
Related Concept Videos
Insufficient Sleep and Sleep Deprivation
Sleep deprivation is a more severe form of sleep loss...
Sleep Apnea
The condition is more prevalent among...
Chronopharmacokinetics: Circadian Rhythms and Influence on Drug Response
The time of drug administration is an important factor to consider, as it can influence the toxic dose of a drug. For example, a study conducted by Prins et al. in 1997 examined the effects of the timing of...
Insomnia
Multiple factors contribute...
Substance Use Disorders Affecting Sleep
Understanding the concepts of physical dependence,...
Nightmares and Night Terrors
Nightmares...

