Sleep Quality and Disturbances in Children and Adolescents with Cancers: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background   Childhood cancer has very unpleasant side effects on patients. A common problem among patients is sleep disturbance owing to a variety of causes. This study aimed to determine the sleep quality and disturbances in children and adolescents with cancer in Yazd, Iran.   Materials and Methods   This study was a descriptive cross-sectional on ۱۰۱ patients aged ۴-۱۸ years who referred to the Shahid Sadoughi hospital in Yazd, Iran, and were treated with the diagnosis of cancer. Sleep quality was assessed via the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Data were analyzed using SPSS version ۱۶.۰ software.   Results   The mean age of the patients was ۹.۵۴ ± ۳.۹۷ years and ۵۹.۴% were girls. The mean duration of cancer was ۱۲.۸۲ ± ۲.۶۶ months.The mean of PSQI was ۶.۴۹ ± ۳.۱۴ (of the total score ۲۱). Considering a cutoff point ۵, (۶۰.۹%) of patients were identified as poor sleeper. The mean of sleep duration was ۷.۷۲ ± ۱.۶۸ hours and mean of sleep latency was ۳۵.۴۵ ± ۲۹.۷۳ minutes. The mean of fatigue was increased with increasing the average of sleep quality (P =۰.۰۰۰).   Conclusion   According to the results, more than half of children with cancer had poor sleep quality. According to frequent waking ups during the night, and sleep duration reduction, it is necessary to set time nursing care during the night to prevent frequent waking during the night.

Keywords:

Adolescent , Cancer , Children , Sleep Disorders