The general, cardiothoracic and neurological ICUs of the study hospital comprised of 36 beds in total and the hospital was a state-wide referral centre for spinal and burns injuries. The ICUs were closed units with an accredited intensivist responsible for the management of all patients. The registered nurse (RN) to patient ratio was 1:1 for mechanically ventilated patients and 1:2 for patients requiring high dependency care. The RN performed all the nursing care for the patient and was supported by ancillary staff such as patient services assistants and ward clerks. Patients were eligible to participate in the study if they were treated in one of the study ICUs, aged 18 years or more, had an ICU length of stay (LOS) 2 nights, were able to give ≥ informed consent to participate, were able to complete the study instruments in English, had aadequate vision and hearing to complete study instruments and had been cleared for discharge from ICU to a hospital ward. Patients were excluded if they had a known history or evidence of sleep disorder (e.g. obstructive sleep apnoea), if significant treatment limitations were in place and/or were receiving palliative care or were in isolation nursing for multiresistant organisms. All participants gave written informed consent using the HREC-approved information sheet and consent form after they had been designated ready for ICU discharge; continuing consent was sought verbally at each data collection time point after ICU discharge. Measures and Data Collection In ICU prior to transfer to a hospital ward patients completed the Insomnia Severity Index (ISI) [] [Bastien 2011] reporting on their prehospital sleep, a 1-10 likert scale on the quality of sleep at home [] and the Richards Campbell Sleep Questionnaire (RCSQ) [] on their previous night’s sleep in ICU. After 1-2 nights on the hospital ward they again completed the RCSQ on their previous night’s sleep. Two months after hospital discharge former patients
The general, cardiothoracic and neurological ICUs of the study hospital comprised of 36 beds in total and the hospital was a state-wide referral centre for spinal and burns injuries. The ICUs were closed units with an accredited intensivist responsible for the management of all patients. The registered nurse (RN) to patient ratio was 1:1 for mechanically ventilated patients and 1:2 for patients requiring high dependency care. The RN performed all the nursing care for the patient and was supported by ancillary staff such as patient services assistants and ward clerks. Patients were eligible to participate in the study if they were treated in one of the study ICUs, aged 18 years or more, had an ICU length of stay (LOS) ≥ 2 nights, were able to give informed consent to participate, were able to complete the study instruments in English, had aadequate vision and hearing to complete study instruments and had been cleared for discharge from ICU to a hospital ward. Patients were excluded if they had a known history or evidence of sleep disorder (e.g. obstructive sleep apnoea), if significant treatment limitations were in place and/or were receiving palliative care or were in isolation nursing for multiresistant organisms. All participants gave written informed consent using the HREC-approved information sheet and consent form after they had been designated ready for ICU discharge; continuing consent was sought verbally at each data collection time point after ICU discharge. Measures and Data Collection In ICU prior to transfer to a hospital ward patients completed the Insomnia Severity Index (ISI) [] [Bastien 2011] reporting on their prehospital sleep, a 1-10 likert scale on the quality of sleep at home [] and the Richards Campbell Sleep Questionnaire (RCSQ) [] on their previous night’s sleep in ICU. After 1-2 nights on the hospital ward they again completed the RCSQ on their previous night’s sleep. Two months after hospital discharge former patients