Open AccessSleep problems in advanced cancer patients and their caregivers: Who is disturbing whom?
Author(s) -
Qi Chen,
Lauren Terhorst,
Amy E. Lowery-Allison,
Hannah Cheng,
Allan Tsung,
Mikhaila Layshock,
Daniel J. Buysse,
David A. Geller,
J. Wallis Marsh,
Yisi Wang
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
journal of behavioral medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.213
H-Index - 94
eISSN - 1573-3521
pISSN - 0160-7715
DOI - 10.1007/s10865-019-00088-3
Subject(s) - sleep (system call) , pittsburgh sleep quality index , medicine , sleep onset latency , health psychology , sleep quality , epidemiology , physical therapy , gerontology , psychiatry , insomnia , public health , nursing , computer science , operating system
Background The aims of the study were to understand sleep problems and their effects in advanced cancer patients and spousal and intimate partner caregivers and to examine the directionality of the link between patients' and caregivers' sleep problems. Methods Fifty-four advanced cancer patients and their spousal and intimate partners were administered a battery of questionnaires that included the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index and the Center for Epidemiological Studies at the patients' cancer diagnosis and at 2, 4, and 6 months after diagnosis. Results Patients' and caregivers' sleep duration was significantly related. Using cross-lagged panel analyses, caregivers' sleep quality significantly predicted patients' sleep quality and patients' sleep quality subsequently predicted caregivers' sleep quality. Patients' sleep latency significantly was found to significantly predict caregivers' sleep latency. Conclusion Patients diagnosed with cancer and their intimate partners have poor sleep quality and sleep patterns are related.