Sleep-wake disturbances in people with cancer part I: an overview of sleep, sleep regulation, and effects of disease and treatment.

Catherine Vena, Kathy Parker, Mary Cunningham, Jane Clark, Susany McMillan

Journal: Oncology nursing forum 2005;31(4):735-46

PMID: 15252429

Full Text on Oncology Nursing Society View on PubMed

Abstract

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVES

To provide an overview of normal sleep, describe common sleep disorders, and discuss underlying sleep regulatory processes and how cancer, cancer treatment, and associated patient responses may adversely affect sleep.

DATA SOURCES

Published peer-reviewed articles and textbooks.

DATA SYNTHESIS

The duration, structure, and timing of sleep have a profound impact on health, well-being, and performance. Patients with cancer may be at risk for disturbances in sleeping and waking resulting from disease- and nondisease-related circumstances that interfere with normal sleep regulation, including demographic, lifestyle, psychological, and disease- and treatment-related factors.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with cancer are at high risk for sleep-wake disturbances.

IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING

An understanding of normal sleep, sleep pathology, and the factors that can precipitate sleep disturbance provides a context for nurses to interpret sleep complaints in their patients, evaluate responses to sleep-promoting interventions, and guide decision making regarding referrals.

Address: Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA. [email protected]

DOI: 10.1188/04.ONF.735-746

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https://ons.org/article/find?doi=10.1188/04.ONF.73...

MeSH Terms: Adult, Age Factors, Aged, Antineoplastic Agents, Cytokines, Female, Humans, Life Style, Male, Middle Aged, Neoplasms, Pain, Paraneoplastic Endocrine Syndromes, Paraneoplastic Syndromes, Quality of Life, Radiotherapy, Sleep Stages, Sleep Wake Disorders