Sleep Problems In Dementia: Interviews with Care Home Staff, 2019

Sleep disturbances are common in people with dementia, particularly those living in care homes. However, there is little research in this population into the persistence, causes and consequences of sleep disturbances, including whether quality of life is impacted upon. Existing studies are often small with contradictory findings. It is important to clarify these factors, as they have practical implications on how, sleep disturbances in dementia should be managed. Furthermore, though hypnotic medications are commonly used, they are not recommended as they have been linked to increased risk of falls and mortality, and have little efficacy. There are currently no evidence-based treatments. Lastly, previous qualitative work on sleep disturbances in care home residents with dementia has not focussed on the perspectives of care home staff. The data shared here is from the qualitative part of this studentship, which was a study named the SIESTA study (Sleep problems In dEmentia: interviews with care home STAff). In the study we aimed to explore the causes, impacts and management of sleep disturbances in residents with dementia from the perspectives of care home staff. We interviewed 18 nurses and care assistants working both day and night shifts at four care homes in the UK providing residential and nursing care. Each interview was a one-to-one interview in a private room of the care home. The 18 care home staff members were purposively recruited to reflect the diversity in staff working in care homes. The care homes were all in Greater London, but included urban and surburban areas. On average, in each interview the care home staff member spoke about three residents with dementia and sleep disturbances. We used a topic guide to explore staff experience of sleep disturbance in residents with dementia. The interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed, and analysed thematically by two researchers independently.
The collection consists of data from one-to-one semi-structured interviews with 18 nurses and care assistants in four UK care homes.<p>Sleep disturbances are common in people with dementia, particularly those living in care homes. However, there is little research in this population into the persistence, causes and consequences of sleep disturbances, including whether quality of life is impacted upon. Existing studies are often small with contradictory findings. It is important to clarify these factors, as they have practical implications on how, sleep disturbances in dementia should be managed. Furthermore, though hypnotic medications are commonly used, they are not recommended as they have been linked to increased risk of falls and mortality, and have little efficacy. There are currently no evidence-based treatments. Lastly, previous qualitative work on sleep disturbances in care home residents with dementia has not focussed on the perspectives of care home staff.

The data shared here is from the qualitative part of this studentship, which was a study named the SIESTA study (Sleep problems In dEmentia: interviews with care home STAff). In the study we aimed to explore the causes, impacts and management of sleep disturbances in residents with dementia from the perspectives of care home staff.

We interviewed 18 nurses and care assistants working both day and night shifts at four care homes in the UK providing residential and nursing care. Each interview was a one-to-one interview in a private room of the care home. The 18 care home staff members were purposively recruited to reflect the diversity in staff working in care homes. The care homes were all in Greater London, but included urban and surburban areas. On average, in each interview the care home staff member spoke about three residents with dementia and sleep disturbances.

We used a topic guide to explore staff experience of sleep disturbance in residents with dementia. The interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed, and analysed thematically by two researchers independently.</p>