Evaluation of sleep quality in stage II and stage III colorectal cancer patients–secondary analysis of a randomized controlled trial

Abstract

Background: Sleep quality in cancer patients often does not receive sufficient attention from their treating physicians and nurses. This report aims to highlight this under-researched issue among colorectal cancer patients scheduled to receive adjuvant chemotherapy. Materials and Methods: This is a secondary analysis of data from 129 participants from a randomized controlled trial conducted to determine the nurse-led intervention’s effect on cognitive and non-cognitive functions and serum TNF-alpha levels in patients receiving chemotherapy for colorectal cancer at Tata Memorial Hospital. The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index was used to collect data on sleep quality. The study also explored potential reasons for the reported poor sleep quality in the selected cohort. Results: The prevalence of poor sleep quality was approximately 60%. Sleep was primarily affected due to poor sleep latency and sleep efficiency. Also, women were more likely to experience issues related to sleep. Patients did not consider it a significant issue to report to their treating physicians and nurses. Factors contributing to poor sleep quality included financial concerns, child-rearing responsibilities, and anxiety about disease outcomes. Conclusion: Cancer patients do experience poor sleep quality, and it is crucial to assess and address this issue promptly to prevent adverse responses to cancer therapy, which can lead to increased morbidity and mortality.

Keywords

• chemotherapy; colorectal cancer; quality of sleep