Quality of Life among Elderly People with Sleep Disorders

Abstract

Background: Sleep disorders have been linked with adverse long-term health outcomes, including diminished quality of life and physical and psychological morbidity. Aim of the study: The present study aimed to assess quality of life among elderly people with sleep disorders. Design: A descriptive research design was utilized to conduct this study. Setting: The study was conducted at Psychiatric Outpatient Clinic which affiliated to Benha University Hospital. Sample: Convenience sample of 60 elderly people was taken. Tools: Three tools were used for data collection. I: An interviewing questionnaire was used to assess A): Socio-demographic characteristics of the studied elderly people, B): Elderly people’ knowledge about sleep disorders, and C): Elderly people’ reported practices regarding sleep disorders. II: Quality of life scale to assess elderly people's quality of life. III: Athens Insomnia Scale (AIS) for assessment of sleep disorders degree. Results: 41.7% aged ≥70 years with mean age of 71.24 ± 5.45years old, while 61.7% were females, 65.0% of the studied elderly people had poor total knowledge level, 78.3% had unhealthy total reported practice level regarding sleep disorders, 56.7% had fair total quality of life level, and 50.0% of the studied elderly people had moderate degree of sleep disorders. Conclusion: There was a highly statistically significant relation between the total quality of life level of the elderly people and their total sleep disorders degree. Recommendations: Health educational program should be conducted for elderly people with sleep disorders to improve their sleeping pattern and quality of life.