Aim To explore patient, carer and healthcare staff perceptions of sleep quality, barriers and enablers of good sleep, and responsibility for sleep optimisation in geriatric and rehabilitation units, to inform future research and quality improvements.
Methods A qualitative study was conducted using focus groups. Participants comprised of current inpatients, their carers and multidisciplinary health professionals working on a geriatric and rehabilitation unit. Focus groups were semi-structured to gain insights into the following questions: How important is sleep in geriatric and rehabilitation units? What factors influence sleep quality? And who is responsible for optimising sleep? Discussions were audio-recorded, transcribed and analysed using inductive content analysis.
Results Seven focus groups were conducted with 42 participants, including 10 patients, 17 doctors, six nurses, four pharmacists, three occupational therapists, one physiotherapist, and one carer. Sleep was regarded as essential for patient recovery, with inadequate sleep perceived to decrease rehabilitation engagement, increase falls risks and lead to cognitive decline. Barriers to sleep included environmental factors (e.g. noise, light and shared rooms), medical routines and patient-specific factors (e.g. pain, delirium, nocturia). Enablers included structured routines, personalised comfort measures and minimising nighttime disruptions. Participants emphasised the importance of a multidisciplinary approach and the integration of sleep into care planning.
Conclusion The findings highlighted the perceived importance of sleep to promote recovery and safety in geriatric and rehabilitation units. Addressing identified barriers through targeted interventions has the potential to improve patient outcomes. Future research should explore interventional strategies to build upon these findings and develop tailored solutions.