Thesis
Sleep disturbance and worry in parental caregivers of children in the maintenance phase of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL)
Master of Science (M.S.), Drexel University
May 2011
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17918/etd-4269
Abstract
Background: Research indicates that parental caregivers of children with chronic illnesses have reported sleep disturbance and poor sleep quality, possibly due to nighttime caregiving, frequent monitoring, disturbance of the child's sleep, and emotional distress. Among chronic illnesses, Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) is the most common pediatric cancer and the maintenance phase is the third and longest phase of treatment, often requiring caregivers to be vigilant advocates and care providers. However, despite the high prevalence of ALL and the attending demands of caregiving, knowledge of the impact of worry and child sleep disturbance on sleep quality among this specific population of caregivers is limited. Therefore, the aim of this informative pilot study was to describe overall subjective sleep quality and disturbance among caregivers of children in the maintenance phase of ALL, as well as to examine the relationship between subjective sleep quality, child sleep disturbance, and worry of caregivers in order to inform the literature and the development of future quantitative studies. The current study was part of a larger study which aimed to prospectively describe the impact of corticosteroids on sleep patterns and health-related quality of life of 128 children with ALL over a 28-day period in maintenance treatment. Method: At a single time point, 32 caregivers of children with ALL ages 3 to 12 receiving care at The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) and St. Christopher's Hospital for Children completed measures of demographic information, caregiver worry, and subjective sleep quality of the past month, as well as measures regarding the child's developmental history and sleep habits and disturbance of the past week. Results: Participants were 28 mothers and 4 fathers (75% married, 81.3% Caucasian, 12.5% Hispanic) ranging in age from 21 to 67 years old. No significant relationship was found between higher levels of caregiver subjective sleep quality, child sleep disturbance and caregiver worry. However, caregivers were nearly evenly divided between good and poor sleepers, as 43.8% were found to be poor sleepers and scored >5 on the PSQI. Conclusions: Though limited, the findings provide a description of the subjective sleep quality and disturbance of this distinct caregiver population and highlight the need for further research and support of caregivers of children with pediatric illnesses, particularly sleep patterns, quality, and sources of sleep disturbance over time.
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Details
- Title
- Sleep disturbance and worry in parental caregivers of children in the maintenance phase of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL)
- Creators
- Colleen Marie Walsh - DU
- Contributors
- Jacqueline D. Kloss (Advisor) - Drexel University (1970-)
- Awarding Institution
- Drexel University
- Degree Awarded
- Master of Science (M.S.)
- Publisher
- Drexel University; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Resource Type
- Thesis
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- Psychological and Brain Sciences (Psychology); College of Arts and Sciences; Drexel University
- Other Identifier
- 4269; 991014632075604721