Introduction

Sleep disorders are reflected in deteriorating cognitive, psychophysical, and social functioning, and the treatment involves various interventions. Sleep disorders in hospitalized patients may result from the specific nature and functioning of the ward, the behavior of other patients, stress related to health, and treatment. In order to improve sleep quality, it is necessary to identify the factors contributing to the disorders and for hospital care specialists to take action aimed at preventing the negative effects of sleep disorders. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of sleep disorders and sleep quality among patients undergoing conservative treatment.

Material and methods

The study was conducted among 104 patients using a diagnostic survey based on the authors’ interview questionnaire. Relationships between variables were assessed using the Pearson chi-square test. A level of p < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Results

Sleep disorders were reported by 46.2% of participants. The quality of their sleep was rated as very good or good by 60.6% of the participants. Deterioration of health, artificial light, and stress had a negative impact on sleep during hospitalization. In the opinion of the participants, symptoms such fatigue, daytime sleepiness, and difficulty getting up in the morning were consequences of sleep disorders. According to the participants, the main nursing interventions to reduce sleep disorders included limitation of artificial lighting, silence, and pharmacotherapy. No significant correlations were found between sleep disorders and health status (p = 0.650) or the sociodemographic variables: gender (p = 0.88), place of residence (p = 0.332), level of education (p = 0.150), marital status (p = 0.395), or mode of admission to the hospital (p = 0.053).

Conclusions

The study confirmed the occurrence of sleep disorders in the study group for various reasons. Professionals involved in patient care should be engaged in the assessment and treatment of sleep disorders, as the implementation of effective interventions can improve sleep quality and thus patient functioning.