Date of Award

2024

Document Type

Scholarly Project

Degree Name

Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD)

Department

Occupational Therapy

First Advisor

Anne Haskins

Abstract

Background: Insufficient sleep is a public health epidemic that affects 10-30% of the population, impacts brain functioning, mood, attention, memory, and healing (CDC, 2015) and increases the likelihood of serious medical conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease (Ho & Sui, 2018). The rate of sleep difficulties increases to 47-67% in the hospitalized population (Miller et al., 2019). According to Poole et al. (2022), 98% of occupational therapists reported believing that sleep assessment and intervention are important in rehabilitation, but less than 25% implemented any intervention. The physical effects and stress of illness and the inpatient rehabilitation environment affect sleep quality, yet it is not commonly addressed in practice.

Project Description/Results: To address the identified gaps in practice, the development and implementation of two guides (one for inpatient rehabilitation staff and one for clients) were created based on a literature review, needs assessment, discussions with stakeholders, and the Ecology of Human Performance (Dunn, 2017). The guides facilitate stakeholders’ understanding of the importance of sleep, the impact of common illnesses and the inpatient rehabilitation environment on sleep, assessments to evaluate barriers to sleep, and respective interventions. The barriers include altered routines, stimulating environments, and medical complications. This project represents the scholarship of application as published research and theory was compiled and translated into practice.

Discussion: Inpatient rehabilitation centers are uniquely positioned to provide education to clients on sleep skills that promote health outcomes both in the center and following discharge (Sullan et al., 2021). Two materials were developed to allow for varying levels of practitioner involvement to suit the limitations of the product (time, productivity, and insurance requirements of the setting) while still addressing the need. The design of the materials encourages selfdirected and independent client use to occur. All materials are available to all facility staff to increase the likelihood of its use with clients. Implementation of a multifaceted guide allows staff and clients to address an occupation commonly forgotten and improve the health and wellness outcomes of clients.

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