Predictors of sleep disturbances in caregivers of patients with advanced cancer receiving home palliative care: A descriptive cross-sectional study.

Abstract Purpose To evaluate the quality of sleep in caregivers of patients with advanced cancer receiving home palliative care, basing the analysis on subjective and objective measures, and to develop a predictive model of sleep disturbances among this population. Method A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in six clinical management units within primary healthcare centres. Data were obtained during a period of six months, from a sample population of 41 caregivers. The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and a 7-day accelerometry evaluation were performed to assess sleep quality. Daytime sleepiness, caregiver strain and quality of life were also evaluated. Results According to the PSQI, 90.2% of participants had poor sleep quality. The average duration of night-time sleep, measured by accelerometry and the PSQI, was six hours. Taking PSQI as the dependent variable, the study model predicted 40.7% of the variability (p Conclusions The caregivers presented significant health-related alterations, including sleep disturbances, which were directly related to two variables: the index of caregiver strain and the number of hours per day dedicated to providing care.