Sleep Quality of Children and Caregivers in Pediatric Palliative Care: A Single-Center Cross-Sectional Study

ObjectivesHaving a child with a life-limiting or life-threatening illness affects the lives of family members. Sleep disorders are among the most common symptoms in pediatric palliative care, but strategies for symptom management associated with sleep disorders are poorly understood. In this study, we aimed to identify sleep disorders in children in pediatric palliative care, to identify sleep disorders in parents, and to examine associated factors.MethodsThe study was a cross-sectional, prospective study conducted between September 2020 and April 2021 in Izmir, Türkiye. The Child Sleep Habits Questionnaire and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index were used to assess sleep disorders in children and parents.ResultsA total of 76 caregiver parent-child couples with life-threatening/limiting disease were included in the study. The mean age of the children was 7.79 ± 4.28 years and 61.8% (n = 47) were male. The child's The Child Sleep Habits Questionnaire total score and the parent's Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index total score showed a weak positive correlation (r_s(76) = 0.309, p = 0.007). Among the subscales, "Bedtime resistance" score was statistically significantly higher only in girls (12.28 ± 2.34 vs 10.96 ± 1.89, p = 0.018), whereas "Sleep duration" score was statistically significantly lower in the male parent group (4.0 ± 1.15 vs 5.97 ± 1.63, p = 0.028).ConclusionsSleep disturbances in children in pediatric palliative care and their caregivers are important. Caregivers' sleep is affected by children's sleep duration, sleep anxiety, and nocturnal awakenings. Adjusting the treatment of patients on medication at night as well as during the day can improve both the child's and the mother's sleep.