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Sleep disorders in breast cancer survivors

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Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the feasibility, acceptability, and initial results of a structured assessment of sleep disorders in breast cancer survivors (BCS). Our goal was to determine whether the assessment could be easily used and whether it would capture problems suggestive of one or more underlying sleep disorders that require referral to a specialist for diagnostic validation through polysomnography and appropriate specialty treatment.

Methods

A cross-sectional, feasibility study using convenience sampling.

Results

A total of 38 BCS completed the study. Recruitment procedures were adequate in finding eligible BCS, however, procedures used to establish possible patterns of sleep disorders (e.g., interview) were not feasible for screening for sleep disorders in the clinical setting due to the time it took to complete each interview. A total of seven sleep disorder categories were identified in the data with the majority of women having at least one possible sleep disorder.

Conclusions

Study findings suggest that population-based screening for sleep disorders in clinical practice should be a priority for BCS reporting chronic sleep problems.

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Acknowledgments

IU Simon Cancer Center Recruitment Core Grant, Indiana University School of Nursing Foundation, Indiana University School of Nursing Center for Enhancing Quality of Life in Chronic Illness, REDCap data management system used for this study is sponsored by IU Clinical Translation CTSI Grant.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Indiana University School of Nursing, 600 Barnhill Drive NUW401, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA

    Julie L. Otte

  2. Indiana University School of Nursing, 600 Barnhill Drive NU 366, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA

    Lorie Davis & Janet S. Carpenter

  3. IU Simon Cancer Center, 980 W. Walnut St., Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA

    Connie Krier

  4. Division of Clinical Pharmacology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA

    Todd C. Skaar

  5. Department of Psychology, Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis, 402 North Blackford Street, LD 124, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA

    Kevin L. Rand

  6. College of Nursing University of Florida, PO Box 100197, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA

    Michael Weaver

  7. University of Washington School of Nursing, Box 357266, Seattle, WA, 98195, USA

    Carol Landis

  8. Indiana University School of Medicine/IU Health Physicians, Goodman Hall / IU Health Neuroscience Center, 355 W. 16th St. Suite 2800, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA

    Yelena Chernyak

  9. Indiana University School of Medicine, 714 N. Senate Ave Suite 120, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA

    Shalini Manchanda

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  1. Julie L. Otte
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Julie L. Otte.

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Otte, J.L., Davis, L., Carpenter, J.S. et al. Sleep disorders in breast cancer survivors. Support Care Cancer 24, 4197–4205 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-016-3247-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-016-3247-6

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