Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2022 Jul;27(4):537-545.
doi: 10.1111/nicc.12741. Epub 2022 Jan 12.

Effect of earplug/eye mask on sleep and delirium in intensive care patients

Reva Balci Akpinar  1 , Meyreme Aksoy  2 , Elif Kant  3
Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial

Effect of earplug/eye mask on sleep and delirium in intensive care patients

Reva Balci Akpinar et al. Nurs Crit Care. 2022 Jul.

Abstract

Background: Environmental factors such as loud sounds and bright lights in intensive care units can cause sleep disorders and delirium.

Aim: The present study aims to investigate the effects of the overnight use of earplugs and eye masks by intensive care patients on their sleep quality and the degree of delirium.

Study design: This randomized controlled experimental study was conducted on the patients admitted to a coronary intensive care unit.

Methods: The patients in the experimental group used earplugs and eye masks during the night, while those in the control group received only routine care. Data were collected using an information form, the Richards-Campbell sleep questionnaire (RCSQ), and the intensive care delirium screening checklist (ICDSC).

Results: The study included a total of 84 patients, 42 in the experimental group and 42 in the control group. The baseline average score of the patients in the experiment group on the RCSQ was 40.11 ± 16.55, with a Time 1 average score of 64.09 ± 14.07 and a Time 2 average score of 72.07 ± 11.75; their baseline average score on the ICDSC was 0.47 ± 0.50, with a Time 1 average score of 0.33 ± 065 and a Time 2 average score of 0.19 ± 039. The baseline average score of the patients in the control group on the RCSQ was 44.07 ± 7.30, with a Time 1 average score of 46.97 ± 9.22 and a Time 2 average score of 47.04 ± 11.53; the baseline average score of the control group on the ICDSC was 0.42 ± 0.50, with a Time 1 average score of 0.50 ± 0.70 and a Time 2 average score of 0.57 ± 0.66. A statistically significant difference was found between the Time 1 and Time 2 average scores of the experimental and control groups on the RCSQ and between the Time 2 average scores of the experimental and control groups on the ICDSC (U = 198.00, P < .001; U = 70.000, P < .001; U = 614.000, P = ·004 respectively).

Conclusions: The earplugs and eye masks used by the intensive care patients overnight were associated with an increase in sleep quality and a decrease in the degree of delirium.

Relevance to clinical practice: The use of earplugs and eye masks is recommended for intensive care units in supporting sleep quality and preventing delirium.

Keywords: delirium; earplugs; eye mask; intensive care unit; sleep quality.

PubMed Disclaimer

Comment in

References

REFERENCES

    1. Terzi B, Kaya N. Yoğun bakım hastasında hemşirelik bakımı. Yoğun Bakım Dergisi. 2011;1:21-25.
    1. Jones C, Dawson D. Eye masks and earplugs improve patient's perception of sleep. Nurs Crit Care. 2012;17(5):247-254.
    1. Parsons EC, Hough CL, Vitiello MV, Zatzick D, Davydow DS. Insomnia is associated with quality of life impairment in medical-surgical intensive care unit survivors. Heart Lung. 2015;44(2):89-94.
    1. Simini B. Patients' perceptions of intensive care. Lancet. 1999;354(9178):571-572.
    1. Elliott R, McKinley S, Cistulli P, Fien M. Characterisation of sleep in intensive care using 24-hour polysomnography: an observational study. Crit Care. 2013;17(2):R46.

Publication types

LinkOut - more resources