Introduction: Sleep plays an important part in human wellbeing. Sleep deprivation has serious deleterious effects on any subject of life. The most obvious and well documented adverse consequences are focused on the immune system, cardiopulmonary function and cognitive function. Sleep in critical ill patients is characterized by frequent disruptions and poor quality along with a reduction in the depth and restorative stages. In critical ill patients the prevalence of sleep disturbance has been shown to be more than 50%. Sleep disturbances seems to be due to environmental factors related to the intensive care unit (ICU) itself (light, noise level) patient’s condition and medical treatment.
The aim of the presented study was to present the cause of sleep disorders in patients treated in the intensive care unit and to present activities that would improve the sleep quality of patients.
Material and methods: The work is of an illustrative nature. For the needs of the work, the Polish and English-language literature available in medical databases over the last 15 years has been analyzed.
Results: Analysis of the collected literature has shown that pharmaceuticals used in the treatment of patients in the intensive care unit can potentially affect sleep disorders. Respiratotherapy is one of the main factors disturbing ICU sleep. Factors such as noise and care activities have been classically recognized as the main causes of sleep disorder in critically ill patients.
Conclusions: Nursing staff who have constant contact with the patient plays a key role in minimizing factors that disrupt the patient’s sleep. Therefore, it is important to raise the awareness of nursing staff about possible activities that can minimize sleep disorders.
