Sleep experience among hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) patients during protective isolation

Purpose: This descriptive qualitative study explored the sleep experiences among hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) patients during protective isolation. Methods: Data were collected between October 2014 and May 2015 through in-depth interviews with 10 HSCT patients who had been in isolation for at least 3 days. Interviews took place in isolation rooms, with 1-3 sessions per participant, each lasting 30 minutes to 2 hours. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis. Results: Three main themes emerged: ‘Sleep in a confined space’, ‘Thoughts filling sleepless hours’ and ‘The double-edged sword of smartphones’. Participants described 8 related sub themes: the components in sleep of patients with HSCT who were hospitalized in a protective isolation unit were as follows. (1) A stifling environment where time stands still (2) Difficulty sleeping in confinement (3) Insomnia as something to endure (4) Aversion to sleeping pills (5) Worry and anxiety (6) Reflecting on life (7) Smartphones as a support to endure time (8) Smartphones disrupting sleep. Conclusion: HSCT patients faced significant sleep disturbances due to confinement, anxiety, and environmental factors. They often accepted these difficulties as unavoidable aspects of treatment. Future interventions should promote sleep hygiene through patient-provider communication and improve the sleep environment. Further research is needed to develop effective nursing strategies to address these sleep issues.