Predictors of sleep disturbances in caregivers of patients with advanced cancer receiving home palliative care: A descriptive cross-sectional study. (April 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Valero-Cantero, Inmaculada; Wärnberg, Julia; Carrión-Velasco, Yolanda; Martínez-Valero, Francisco Javier; Casals, Cristina; Vázquez-Sánchez, María Ángeles
• Is Part Of: European journal of oncology nursing. Volume 51(2021)
• Publication Date: 2021-04
• Subjects: Accelerometry -- Family caregivers -- Palliative cancer -- Self report -- Sleep hygiene; Cancer -- Nursing -- Periodicals; Cancer -- Research -- Periodicals; Oncology -- Periodicals; Oncology Nursing -- Periodicals; Neoplasms -- nursing -- Periodicals; Cancer -- Soins infirmiers -- Périodiques; Cancer -- Recherche -- Périodiques; Cancérologie -- Périodiques; Verpleegkunde; Kanker; Cancer -- Nursing; Cancer -- Research; Oncology; Electronic journals; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 616.9940231
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ejon.2021.101907
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1462-3889

Abstract

Abstract: Purpose: To evaluate the quality of sleep in caregivers of patients with advanced cancer receiving home palliative care, basing the analysis on subjective and objective measures, and to develop a predictive model of sleep disturbances among this population. Method: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in six clinical management units within primary healthcare centres. Data were obtained during a period of six months, from a sample population of 41 caregivers. The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and a 7-day accelerometry evaluation were performed to assess sleep quality. Daytime sleepiness, caregiver strain and quality of life were also evaluated. Results: According to the PSQI, 90.2% of participants had poor sleep quality. The average duration of night-time sleep, measured by accelerometry and the PSQI, was 6 h. Taking PSQI as the dependent variable, the study model predicted 40.7% of the variability (p < 0.01). The variables "Caregiver strain" and "Daily hours dedicated to care" produced the following results: B coefficient 0.645; p = 0.001; and B coefficient 0.230; p = 0.010, respectively. Conclusions: The caregivers presented significant health-related alterations, including sleep disturbances, which were directly related to two variables: the index of caregiver strain and the number of hours per day dedicated to providing care. Highlights: The caregivers of palliative cancer patients present sleep disturbances. Accelerometry and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index were applied. Sleep disturbances were directly related to the caregiver strain index. Sleep disturbances were directly related to the daily hors dedicated to care. The caregiver's attention by primary care nurses should focus on the two mentioned variables.