Patients with congestive heart failure and their conceptions of their sleep situation

Aim. To describe, from a nursing perspective, how patients with CHF conceiv ed their sleep situation. Background. Sleep disturbances are very common in patients with congestive heart failure (CHF). Polysomnographic studies have shown that the total dur ation of sleep is shorter and the sleep structure disturbed, with frequent arousals and sleep stage changes. Methods. A qualitative descriptive design inspired by a phenomenographic ap proach was employed. Conceptions were collected through interviews with 20 strategically chosen CHF patients. Findings. The findings showed that the patients' sleep was affected by thei r daily activities, the disease itself and cardiac symptoms. The sleep dist urbances gave effects such as fatigue, listlessness, loss of concentration and loss of temper. These effects led to a need for daytime sleep, seclusio n, counselling and information. Patients handled their sleep disturbances t hrough coping mechanisms related to developed patterns of daily life and th rough support from their psychosocial environment. Conclusions. Through an increased awareness of the causes of sleep disturba nces in CHF patients, nurses can more effectively meet their caring needs a nd reduce the psychological stressors that patients develop. Information an d education, both to patients and the next of kin, about the disease and th e sleep situation, especially good sleeping habits, can help patients to be tter cope with sleep disturbances.