Sleep Disturbance in People With Stroke: Experiences, Coping Strategies, and Needs

Understanding the experiences of stroke survivors with sleep disturbances is essential for developing effective interventions for addressing post-stroke sleep disturbances. To explore the experiences, coping strategies, and wishes and needs of stroke survivors with sleep disturbances. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 15 community-dwelling stroke survivors experiencing sleep disturbances. The thematic content analysis was used to identify key themes. Nine themes about experiences emerged: (a)impact of stroke on sleep, (b)sleep aggravating factors, (c)sleep enhancing factors, (d)sleep disturbances, (e)consequences of sleep disturbances, (f)medication, (g)napping, (h)sleep partner, and (i)help-seeking behaviors. Three themes about coping strategies emerged: (a)adaptive strategies, (b)maladaptive strategies, and (c)health care provider recommended strategies. Three themes reflected wishes and needs: (a)sleep interventions and knowledge of sleep and stroke, (b)health care system communication and support, and (c)medication and equipment usage. These findings emphasize the need for tailored, multifaceted interventions and improved health care support to address post-stroke sleep disturbances effectively.