Fatigue Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Fatigue, including details on chronic fatigue syndrome, exhaustion, causes, diagnosis.

Self-reported subjective sleep quality and fatigue in patients with peritoneal dialysis treatment at home.

Yngman-Uhlin P, Edéll-Gustafsson U

Junior lecturer, Department of Medicine and Care, Nursing Science, Faculty of Health Science, and The Nursing Program, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden. piayn@imv.liu.se

The aim of this study was to describe habitual sleep, daytime symptoms, sleep-disturbing factors, current sleep during 1 week and fatigue in patients with peritoneal dialysis treatment at home and also discover predictions for sleep quality outcome. The knowledge should increase possibilities for supportive nursing health care. Fifty-five patients answered two mailed questionnaires and filled in a sleep diary. Of these, 60% had moderate, persistent sleep problems combined with daytime symptoms. Nocturnal awakenings with difficulties falling asleep again and a sleep duration predicted as 57% of sleep quality. Nocturnal pruritus and 'difficulties finding a comfortable sleeping position' were significant sleep-disturbing factors. Sleep quality predictors means progress in knowledge about the complexity of the situation for peritoneal dialysis patients. Poor sleep, daytime symptoms, sleep-disturbing factors and chronic fatigue need to be enlightened, especially for the nephrology nurses who are in a unique position to give supportive nursing health care.

Published 5 May 2006 in Int J Nurs Pract, 12(3): 143-52.
Full-text of this article is available online (may require subscription).

© 2005-2008 Fatigue Research Today. All Rights Reserved.