Evaluation of sleep training effectiveness on the quality of sleep in cancer patients during chemotherapy

Abstract

Background: Sleep disorder is one of the most common problems in cancer patients involved in chemotherapy stages, which is caused by the side effects of anticancer drugs and the exacerbation of mental disorders. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of sleep health education on sleep quality of cancer patients during chemotherapy stages. Materials and Methods: In this clinical trial, 70 cancer patients were selected in the chemotherapy phase and divided into two groups of 35. In the intervention group, two 60-min training sessions on sleep hygiene were educated, solutions of coping with the exacerbation of sleep disturbances were determined, and routine care was provided in the control group. Patients were evaluated for sleep disorders before and 1 and 3 weeks after the intervention by the Pittsburgh questionnaire and then the effect of this intervention compared between the two groups. Results: The mean score of sleep medication consumption in the intervention group was not significantly different between the three times (P = 0.59), but the mean score of total sleep quality disorder and its other dimensions was significantly different between the three time points (P < 0.05). Least significant difference post hoc test showed that the mean total score of sleep quality disorder and its dimensions except using sleep medication 1 week after the intervention was significantly less than before the intervention and 3 weeks after the intervention <1 week after the intervention in the intervention group (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Sleep health education for cancer patients involved in chemotherapy can significantly have a positive effect on improving their sleep quality.