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 6 h. Taking PSQI as the dependent variable, the study model predicted 40.7% of the variability (p < 0.01). The variables "Caregiver strain" and "Daily hours dedicated to care" produced the following results: B coefficient 0.645; p = 0.001; and B coefficient 0.230; p = 0.010, respectively.

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.