Clinician Perceptions Around Management of Sleep Problems in Children With Neurodisability

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Medicine
• Neurology
• Sleep Science

Background:

• Children with neurodisability (ND) exhibit higher prevalence of sleep disorders compared to typically developing peers.
• Sleep issues are frequently reported by caregivers and observed by clinicians across various pediatric subspecialties.
• Understanding non-sleep specialists' perspectives on managing pediatric sleep disorders is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the perceptions of diverse pediatric clinicians regarding their role in assessing and managing sleep disorders in children with ND.
• To identify challenges and barriers faced by non-sleep specialists in pediatric sleep management.

Main Methods:

• Cross-sectional survey distributed to clinicians across multiple specialty disciplines (excluding sleep medicine) in three Australian tertiary pediatric hospitals.
• Survey included multiple-choice questions, free-text responses, and case studies.
• Quantitative descriptive statistics and qualitative thematic analysis were employed for data analysis.

Main Results:

• 80% of surveyed clinicians recognized sleep problems as significant in children with ND, with families frequently raising concerns.
• Clinicians predominantly used informal screening methods (70%), with limited utilization of validated tools.
• Confidence in managing sleep disorders varied by specialty, though medical specialists reported higher confidence; lack of training and unclear referral pathways were identified as key barriers.

Conclusions:

• Non-sleep specialized clinicians encounter significant challenges in managing sleep disorders in children with neurodisability.
• Findings underscore the need for developing national clinical guidelines to standardize and improve sleep management approaches for this vulnerable population.