Recent Evidence on Factors and Potential Interventions Affecting Patient Sleep in Inpatient and Hospital Settings

Sleep is a critical but frequently disrupted part of hospital care, affecting patient recovery, length of stay, and physical and mental health. This review examines recent evidence (2022-2026) on why inpatient sleep is disrupted and how interventions can mitigate disturbance across different patient groups and hospital settings.

Findings span five domains: environmental factors such as noise and light, hospital infrastructure and room configuration, patient-related factors including pain and anxiety, care routines, and interventions. Recent high-quality trials and meta-analyses increasingly support nonpharmacological strategies - including environmental modification, care-routine restructuring, and sensory therapies - while evidence for pharmacological agents such as melatonin remains weak outside specific contexts. This review highlights the multifactorial nature of sleep disruption in hospital settings. Prioritizing patient sleep through evidence-based, sustainable strategies can support faster recovery, reduce complications, and improve overall care quality, yet poor sleep remains pervasive. Current evidence supports system-level interventions (workflow restructuring, environmental redesign) and low-cost measures (earplugs, sleep masks, physical therapy) to improve sleep related outcomes including delirium, pain, and length of stay.