Sleep hygiene in patients with early-stage breast cancer: a short report

A previously conducted study reported that insomnia rates among oncology patients in Ireland are twice that of the general population, and that a breast cancer diagnosis was an independent predictor for clinical insomnia disorder. The aim of this study is to explore this interaction further in a larger cohort of breast cancer patients.

We evaluated sleep disturbance and sleep hygiene practices among adult breast cancer patients via questionnaires. Sociodemographic data, clinical characteristics, sleep history and attitudes towards sleep assessments were collected and analysed.

The comprehensive 40-item questionnaire was completed by 315 patients. Of this cohort, 56% reported a change in their sleeping patterns since their cancer diagnosis, with over 55% of the study population having sub-threshold or clinical insomnia disorder. Although 64.2% of patients believed that questions regarding sleep should be part of breast cancer assessment, only 32% recalled being asked about sleep by a healthcare worker. Moreover, only 27.1% of respondents felt their sleeping difficulties were adequately dealt with since their diagnosis.

In summary, sleep disturbance is prevalent among breast cancer patients. Despite a majority of breast cancer patients recognising the importance of sleep assessment, a significant gap remains in healthcare providers addressing these concerns effectively.