RESUMO
BACKGROUND: In Taiwan, eighty-five percent of dementia patients are cared for by family caregivers (FCGs), who have indicated insomnia to be a prevalent personal health problem. PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to explore sleep disturbance and associated factors among FCGs caring for dementia patients. METHODS: A purposive sample of 180 dementia patient dyads and their FCGs was recruited from northern Taiwan. Dementia patients neuropsychiatric symptoms were assessed using the Chinese Neuropsychological Inventory (CNPI). FCG distress, depressive symptoms, and sleep disturbance were assessed using the CNPI Caregiver Distress Scale, Center for Epidemiological Studies-Depression Scales, and Lee's General Sleep Disturbance Scale, respectively. RESULTS: Sleep disturbance was reported as interfering with the daily lives of 13.3% of FCGs. The hierarchical regression model indicated (1) relationships between patients and FCGs and (2) FCG depressive symptoms as two significant predictors of sleep disturbance in FCGs, explaining 45.8% of variance. FCG depressive symptoms represented the most significant single predictor - contributing 31% of variance. CONCLUSIONS: Sleep disturbance in FCGs is predicted by the patient-FCG relationship and FCG depressive symptoms. To better care for FCGs of dementia patients, nurses should assess patients behavioral problems, FCG distress, and FCG depressive symptoms. Nurses may also better allocate social resources based on the specific relationships between FCGs and their dementia patients. In addition, nurses should redirect FCG attention toward positive thinking in order to alleviate depressive symptoms and decrease sleep disturbance.