About the project

The project deals with the sleep quality of children admitted to the PICU in Scandinavia, and how the children’s sleep is affected by the environment in an intensive care unit.

Critically ill patients in intensive care units need sleep to recuperate. Sleep has a restorative effect that is important for patients and their rehabilitation. Sleep promotes healing, reduces the risk of stress, anxiety and depression, strengthens the immune system, affects the hormone balance, and improves memory and intellect. Lack of sleep can, among other tings, lead to a weakened immune system, reduced pain threshold, reduced wound healing, delirium, depression and reduced ability to master the role as a patient. Even though sleep is important to the patient’s health, the environment at intensive care units has many barriers to good sleep quality, such as light and sound, disturbing procedures, invasive treatment, side effect of medication and pain and discomfort.

In contrast to adults, sleep in children in the PICU is an area where little research has been done. The purpose of this project is to study sleep quality among children admitted to the PICU, to investigate the environment in the PICU related to sleep, and to explore what the children need for better sleep quality while in the PICU. The findings of this project may contribute to new knowledge that can be used to reduce the negative consequences of poor sleep quality. Furthermore, this can provide better treatment for children who are critically ill and with a great need for sleep in a demanding rehabilitation process.

Background

Master’s degree in intensive care nursing

Research group

Pasientopplevelser og utvikling av intervensjoner (PIFO)