SleepSure: a study aimed at improving sleep for hospital inpatients
Research type
Research Study
Full title
SleepSure: a randomised controlled trial to assess the effects of eye masks and earplugs on the quality of sleep for patients in hospital.
IRAS ID
192515
Contact name
Derick Wade
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust Research and Development Department
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 0 months, 0 days
Research summary
SleepSure: a randomised controlled trial to assess the effects of eye masks and earplugs on the quality of sleep for patients in hospital. \n\nHospital inpatients consistently complain of lack of sleep due to disruption from lights and noise throughout the night. This can have a severe negative impact on a patient’s hospital experience and has been associated with increased risk of acute confusion, increased medication usage, delayed hospital discharge and worse health outcomes. Despite a number of small-scale randomised trials in intensive care settings, there is limited evidence regarding the use of earplugs and eye masks in the general adult inpatient population.\n\nOur question is simple: Does the provision of earplugs and eye masks improve the sleep of hospital inpatients?\nSecondary questions are :\nDoes this provision lead to a reduced length of stay?\nDoes this provision lead to a reduced incidence of falls? \nDoes this provision lead to a reduced use of sleep aid medication? \n\nWe also wish to discover how many patients provided with earplugs and an eye mask choose to use them. \n\nWe have designed a randomised controlled trial where patients are randomised to receive an eye mask and earplugs or not. This will take place on 10 adult wards at Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. \n\nThis study is sponsored by Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and funded by Challenge 2023. \n\nWe aim to recruit 400 patients over a 3-month data collection period. \nThe patients recruited to the study would be asked to complete a questionnaire >1 day after recruitment. \nWe will ask for some data from their medical records after discharge: age, gender, date of admission, date of discharge, length of stay, number of falls, doses used of zopiclone (sleeping tablet).\n
REC name
North West - Preston Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
16/NW/0318
Date of REC Opinion
18 Apr 2016
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion