SHM Converge Scientific Abstract ePoster Gallery-Defining Existing Practices to Support the Sleep of Hospitalized Patients: A Mixed-Methods Study of Top-Ranked Hospitals

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This study examined how leading U.S. hospitals support sleep for hospitalized patients. Sleep is known to be essential for recovery, yet hospital care often disrupts it. Researchers surveyed and interviewed hospital medicine chiefs from US News & World Report Honor Roll institutions (top adult and pediatric hospitals) to understand attitudes, current practices, and barriers to improving patient sleep.<br /><br />Key findings:<br />- Nearly all leaders agreed that patient sleep is important.<br />- Despite this, only about half were satisfied with their hospital’s efforts.<br />- More than half of surveyed hospitals reported no sleep-friendly practices.<br />- Fewer than half were actively working to improve sleep.<br />- Sleep health equity was rarely addressed; only one institution had related practices.<br /><br />The most common sleep-promoting actions were:<br />- Reducing overnight vital sign checks<br />- Creating quiet hours and dimming ward lights<br />- Adjusting lab and medication schedules to avoid nighttime interruptions<br /><br />Interviews revealed several themes behind progress or lack of progress:<br />- Hospitals need a shared culture that values sleep.<br />- Staff often default to more interventions out of caution, even when unnecessary.<br />- Environmental changes like coordinated lighting and noise reduction can help.<br />- Standardizing and batching care tasks may reduce disruptions.<br />- External motivators such as grants and expert support can drive implementation.<br /><br />Overall, the study concludes that top hospitals recognize the importance of sleep but lack consistent, sleep-friendly practices. The authors recommend identifying best practices and studying hospitals that have made more progress to inform broader improvement efforts.

Asset Subtitle

Murtala Affini

Meta Tag

Author List Aviva Klein, Hyung Cho, Jasmine Gulati, Karen A. Clarke, Lauren M. McDaniel, Murtala Affini, Nicola Orlov, Noah Mason, Vineet Arora, Vivian Lee

Category Research

Concept Sleep

Concept Sleep Disruption

Concept Recovery

Concept Quality of Care

Concept Sleep-Promoting Practice

Distinguished Non-Finalist

Presenter Organization University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine

Presenting Author Murtala Affini

Track Value in Hospital Medicine

Keywords

hospital patient sleep

sleep-friendly practices

hospital medicine chiefs

US News Honor Roll hospitals

sleep disruption

quiet hours

noise reduction

vital sign checks

care standardization

sleep health equity

Sleep

Sleep Disruption

Recovery

Quality of Care

Sleep-Promoting Practice