Quality of sleep in hemodialysis patients

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Hemodialysis patients frequently experience problems sleeping. The purpose of this study was to determine sleep quality in hemodialysis patients. METHODS AND MATERIALS: A total of 150 patients under treatment with ongoing hemodialysis in a university hospital dialysis unit were included in the study. Data were collected with a personal information form and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). RESULTS: A total score greater than 5 on the PSQI indicates poor quality of sleep. It was determined that: all the hemodialysis patients complained of sleep problems; most (78.7%) reported poor sleep quality; as the patients' age and time on dialysis increased, their sleep quality decreased; there was a statistically significant difference in sleep quality according to sex and occupation (p < 0.05); patients who were female and housewives had worse sleep quality than the other patients; and sleep quality did not significantly differ by marital status or educational level (p > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: It was determined that all the hemodialysis patients complained of sleep problems and that most had poor quality of sleep. Interventions directed at eliminating hemodialysis patients' sleep problems will have a part in improving their quality of life.