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Through-the-Wall Blood Sampling Method to Minimize Sleep Disruption in Clinical Settings
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Facilitating Sleep in the Hospital
Samantha Goldstein Betancourt1, David A Schulman2
1Department of Medicine, Emory University, 1364 Clifton Road Northeast, Suite N-305, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA.
The Medical Clinics of North America
|July 24, 2026
Summary
Hospitalized patients often lack quality sleep due to frequent assessments, staff interruptions, and noise. While interventions exist, further research is needed to optimize inpatient sleep quality and improve patient outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Sleep Medicine
- Hospital Patient Care
- Healthcare Quality Improvement
Background:
- Sufficient high-quality sleep is crucial for health, yet hospitalized patients commonly experience sleep deprivation.
- Standard hospital care, including frequent assessments, staff interruptions, and environmental noise, disrupts patient sleep.
- Institutional factors like lack of sleep policies and inadequate staff training worsen inpatient sleep issues.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the challenges and interventions related to inpatient sleep quality.
- To explore the impact of sleep disruption on patient outcomes.
- To identify areas for future research in optimizing hospital sleep environments.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of studies on inpatient sleep.
- Analysis of patient survey data on sleep disturbances.
- Examination of pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic sleep interventions in hospitals.
Main Results:
- Frequent staff assessments and environmental noise are key contributors to poor sleep in hospitalized patients.
- Pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic interventions show potential for improving sleep but yield inconsistent results.
- Existing interventions are generally safe, indicating a need for further investigation.
Conclusions:
- Hospitalized patients face significant sleep challenges due to care practices and environment.
- Interventions to improve inpatient sleep are generally safe but require further research for consistent efficacy.
- Optimizing inpatient sleep quality is essential for improving patient outcomes and experience.
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