External auditory exostosis among surfers: a comprehensive and systematic review.

OBJECTIVE: External auditive exostosis (EAE), known as surfer's ear, is a temporal bone outgrowth resulting from ear exposure to cold air and water. This review aims to shed light on the prevalence of EAE among worldwide surfers. METHODS: By a thorough retrieval of the PubMed, we found all original investigations performed on EAE among suffers. The retrieval time was from the construction of the database to December 2022. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) methodology checklist for assessing the quality of cross-sectional/prevalence study was performed. RESULTS: 19 articles were selected involving 2997 surfers on whom 2032 presented EAE. The prevalence of EAE was ranged from 53 to 90% with a mean at 67.8%. 3 investigations were performed from USA, five from UK and Ireland, five from Australia and New Zealand and six from Japan and Europe. CONCLUSION: Cold water exposure, combined with wind and prolonged surfing activity, contributes to the development of EAE. Symptoms range from mild discomfort to hearing loss and recurrent infections. Preventive measures, such as raising awareness and promoting the use of ear protection, are crucial. Further research is needed to improve prevention strategies and understand the underlying mechanisms of EAE.

Reliability of an extended version of the 3m™ Eargage tool to assess earcanal size and assist earplug selection.

OBJECTIVE: Evaluate the ability of an extended version of the 3 MTM Eargage to estimate the earcanal size and assess the likelihood that a particular earplug can fit an individual's earcanal, ultimately serving as a tool for selecting earplugs in the field. DESIGN: Earcanal morphology, assessed through earcanal earmolds scans, is compared to earcanal size assessed with the extended eargage (EE) via box plots and Pearson linear correlations coefficients. Relations between attenuation measured on participants (for 6 different earplugs) and their earcanal size assessed with the EE are established via comparison tests. STUDY SAMPLE: 121 participants exposed to occupational noise (103 men, 18 women, mean age 47 years). RESULTS: The earcanal size assessed with the EE allows for estimating the area of the earcanal's first bend cross-section (correlation coefficient  r = 0.533, p < 0.001). Extremely large earcanals (12.7% of earcanals in our sample) lead to significantly lower earplug attenuation (potentially inadequate) than smaller earcanals. CONCLUSIONS: The EE is a simple and inexpensive tool easily deployable in the field to assist earplugs selection. When extended with sizes larger than the maximum size of the commercial tool, it allows for detecting individuals with extremely large earcanals who are most likely to be under-protected.

The efficacy of earplugs and eye masks for delirium severity and sleep quality in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting in cardiac intensive care units: A single-blind, randomised controlled trial.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Delirium is a neuropsychiatric syndrome with a wide range of possible causes and multiple complications in patients admitted to intensive care units. It is, therefore, necessary to seek appropriate and safe strategies to prevent and manage delirium. This study is intended to examine the efficacy of eye masks and earplugs for delirium severity and sleep quality in patients with coronary artery bypass grafting in a cardiac intensive care unit. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This single-blind, randomised controlled trial was conducted on 114 patients who were consecutively enrolled and randomly assigned to either the experimental group or the control group. The experimental group received routine care plus eye masks and earplugs, and the control group received only routine care. The delirium severity and sleep quality were measured with the Neelon and Champagne confusion scale and the Verran and Snyder-Halpern sleep scale. RESULTS: The mean delirium severity score differed significantly between the two groups on the second, third, and fourth postoperative days (p < 0.001). Although the trend of changes in the mean delirium severity score from the first postoperative day (before the intervention) to the second, third, and fourth postoperative days was downward in the two groups (trending towards higher delirium severity), the control group experienced greater changes than the experimental group. An intragroup analysis of delirium severity detected a statistically significant difference in both the experimental and control groups (p < 0.001). The sleep quality domains (sleep disturbance, sleep effectiveness, sleep supplementation) showed a statistically significant difference between the two groups across the three intervention days (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: The overnight use of eye masks and earplugs were found to have positive effects on sleep quality domains (sleep disturbance, sleep effectiveness, sleep supplementation) and delirium severity in coronary artery bypass grafting patients admitted to the cardiac intensive care unit for several days. It was also found that a significant interaction effect between the sleep disturbance subscale and delirium severity exists. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: (https://en.irct.ir): IRCT20210523051370N2.

Evaluation of hearing protection device effectiveness for musicians.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate musicians' personal attenuation and perceptions of three types of hearing protection devices (HPDs): formable foam earplugs and both non-custom and custom versions of uniform attenuation earplugs (UAEs) marketed to musicians. DESIGN: A mixed-methods approach was used to evaluate the HPDs. Audiometric testing obtained hearing levels at baseline and with each HPD across frequencies (125-8000 Hz) to determine personal attenuation ratings and uniformity of attenuation. Participants completed surveys over six months regarding how often they used the HPDs and their perceptions about wearing them. STUDY SAMPLE: Twenty-four musicians were recruited to participate. RESULTS: Substantial variability was observed in the attenuation achieved among participants for each HPD type, but custom UAEs provided the most consistent attenuation across frequencies. Participants' HPD preferences were influenced by multiple factors including personal instrument and specific activity. Custom UAEs were most frequently used but usage rates continually decreased over the 6-month period. CONCLUSIONS: Fit-testing is important to determine fit and sizing. Combining information on the effectiveness of HPDs with musicians' opinions about wearing them can inform recommendations for which types may be the most effective and feasible options for reducing sound exposures.

Perforated Concave Earplug (pCEP): A Proof-of-Concept Earplug to Improve Sound Localization without Compromising Noise Attenuation.

Combat soldiers are currently faced with using a hearing-protection device (HPD) at the cost of adequately detecting critical signals impacting mission success. The current study tested the performance of the Perforated-Concave-Earplug (pCEP), a proof-of-concept passive HPD consisting of a concave bowl-like rigid structure attached to a commercial roll-down earplug, designed to improve sound localization with minimal compromising of noise attenuation. Primarily intended for combat/military training settings, our aim was an evaluation of localization of relevant sound sources (single/multiple gunfire, continuous noise, spoken word) compared to 3M™-Combat-Arms™4.1 earplugs in open-mode and 3M™-E-A-R™-Classic™ earplugs. Ninety normal-hearing participants, aged 20-35 years, were asked to localize stimuli delivered from monitors evenly distributed around them in no-HPD and with-HPD conditions. The results showed (1) localization abilities worsened using HPDs; (2) the spoken word was localized less accurately than other stimuli; (3) mean root mean square errors (RMSEs) were largest for stimuli emanating from rear monitors; and (4) localization abilities corresponded to HPD attenuation levels (largest attenuation and mean RMSE: 3M™-E-A-R™-Classic™; smallest attenuation and mean RMSE: 3M™-Combat-Arms™4.1; pCEP was mid-range on both). These findings suggest that the pCEP may benefit in military settings by providing improved sound localization relative to 3M™ E-A-R™-Classic™ and higher attenuation relative to 3M™-Combat Arms™-4.1, recommending its use in noisy environments.

Effect of using eye masks and earplugs in preventing delirium in intensive care patients: A single-blinded, randomized, controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Delirium, which is frequently encountered in intensive care patients, can be prevented with multicomponent nursing interventions, and thus the negative consequences can be reduced. AIM: To examine the effect of using eye masks and earplugs in preventing delirium in intensive care units (ICUs). STUDY DESIGN: A randomized, controlled, single-blind intervention study. This study was conducted in the medical and surgical ICUs of a tertiary hospital, and nurses were given pre-study training on delirium risks, diagnosis, prevention, and management. Data were collected using the patient information form, the Nursing Delirium Screening Scale, the Richard-Campbell Sleep Scale, and the daily follow-up form. Various environmental modifications were made in the ICUs for all patients, and evidence-based nonpharmacological nursing interventions were applied to the patients in both groups during the day and night shifts for 3 days. In addition, the patients in the intervention group were provided with eye masks and earplugs for three nights. RESULTS: The study included a total of 60 patients (30 in the intervention group and 30 in the control group). There was a statistically significant difference in the development of delirium between the intervention and control groups (night of the 2nd day, p = .019; day of the 3rd day p < .001; night of the 3rd day p ≤ .001). The average total sleep quality score of the intervention group was found to be significantly higher than the control group (p ≤ .001 for three nights). Staying in the internal medicine ICU affected (odds ratio [OR], 11.84; 95% confidence interval [CI], 3.00-46.66; p = .017) more on the development of delirium than in coronary ICU, being in the age group of 65 and over, having a hearing impairment, coming to ICU from the operating room, and education level had an effect. CONCLUSIONS: The earplugs and eye masks used by the intensive care patients overnight were found to be effective in increasing sleep quality and preventing delirium. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: The use of eye masks and earplugs is recommended for ICUs in preventing delirium.

The effects of earplugs and eye masks on sleep quality of patients admitted to coronary care units: A randomised clinical trial.

Sleep is an essential need for patients admitted to coronary care units. The present clinical trial aimed to determine the effect of using eye masks and earplugs on the sleep quality of patients with coronary heart disease (CHD). A total of 68 eligible patients with CHD were randomly allocated into four groups of 17 (control, eye masks, earplugs, and eye masks with earplugs). All three interventions were performed during the night from 10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. the next day. The outcomes were the quality of sleep, measured by the Verran and Snyder-Halpern (VSH) Sleep Scale, and the urinary levels of nocturnal melatonin and cortisol, measured by urine samples taken during the night (from 10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m.). The study outcomes were measured on the third and fourth days. Sleep disturbance was statistically significantly lower in patients with earplugs (visual analogue scale mean difference [MD]: 74.31 mm, SE: 11.34, p = 0.001). Sleep effectiveness was statistically significantly higher in patients with eye mask (MD: 36.88 mm, SE: 8.75, p = 0.001). The need for sleep supplementation was statistically significantly lower in patients with eye masks (MD: 39.79 mm, SE: 7.23, p = 0.001). There was a significant difference in melatonin levels between eye masks and the control group (p = 0.03). For urinary cortisol levels, there were significant differences between eye masks and the control group (p = 0.007), earplugs and the control group (p = 0.001), and eye masks with earplugs and the control group (p = 0.006). The mean scores for comfort, effectiveness, and ease of use were highest for the group that used eye masks (2.88, 2.94, and 3.18, respectively). As a result, all three interventions improved the sleep quality of patients. However, the interventions had different effects on the three dimensions of the VSH Sleep Scale, as well as the urinary levels of cortisol and melatonin.

Effectiveness of hearing protection apparatus in preventing noise induced vestibular loss.

Hearing protection apparatus (HPAs) are frequently used to prevent the detrimental effect of noise on the hearing system. However, it is not known exactly whether wearing HPAs in workers protects the vestibular system. This study aims to investigate the effectiveness of wearing HPAs in preventing vestibular loss caused by noise. Eighty-one workers exposed to chronic noise were divided into three groups according to their HPAs wearing status. Pure-tone audiometry test was used to evaluate the hearing. Caloric test and visual analogue scale were used to evaluate their vestibular systems. The pure-tone average of the workers who constantly wore HPAs was better than that of the other groups (p< 0.05). There was no difference between the groups in the vestibular tests (p > 0.05). This study demonstrated that HPAs do not protect the vestibular system but protect the hearing system in the inner ear from the harmful effects of noise.

Comfort of earplugs: results of a field survey based on the COPROD questionnaire.

Many workers are exposed to noise levels that can cause hearing problems. Earplugs remain a common form of protection for workers exposed to hazardous levels. Their comfort directly affects the effective protection by influencing their consistent and correct use. In order to assess comfort, the COPROD questionnaire was previously developed on the basis of four comfort dimensions: acoustic, physical, functional and psychological. During this field survey, nine earplug models were evaluated by 118 participants over a 6-week period. This paper presents analyses of the collected data and compares three families of earplugs: roll-down foam, premolded and custom moulded. Analyses have shown a better rating of custom moulded earplugs in terms of overall comfort and for all dimensions of comfort. Although premolded earplugs are generally preferred to roll-down foam earplugs, from a statistical point of view, the evaluations of these two families are not significantly different for numerous characteristics. Practitioner Summary: Earplugs comfort conditions the hearing protection of the users. The COPROD questionnaire was developed to jointly evaluate all dimensions of comfort. Nine earplugs models were evaluated by 118 participants during 6 weeks. This paper presents analyses of the collected data.

Effect of earplug/eye mask on sleep and delirium in intensive care patients.

BACKGROUND: Environmental factors such as loud sounds and bright lights in intensive care units can cause sleep disorders and delirium. AIM: The present study aims to investigate the effects of the overnight use of earplugs and eye masks by intensive care patients on their sleep quality and the degree of delirium. STUDY DESIGN: This randomized controlled experimental study was conducted on the patients admitted to a coronary intensive care unit. METHODS: The patients in the experimental group used earplugs and eye masks during the night, while those in the control group received only routine care. Data were collected using an information form, the Richards-Campbell sleep questionnaire (RCSQ), and the intensive care delirium screening checklist (ICDSC). RESULTS: The study included a total of 84 patients, 42 in the experimental group and 42 in the control group. The baseline average score of the patients in the experiment group on the RCSQ was 40.11 ± 16.55, with a Time 1 average score of 64.09 ± 14.07 and a Time 2 average score of 72.07 ± 11.75; their baseline average score on the ICDSC was 0.47 ± 0.50, with a Time 1 average score of 0.33 ± 065 and a Time 2 average score of 0.19 ± 039. The baseline average score of the patients in the control group on the RCSQ was 44.07 ± 7.30, with a Time 1 average score of 46.97 ± 9.22 and a Time 2 average score of 47.04 ± 11.53; the baseline average score of the control group on the ICDSC was 0.42 ± 0.50, with a Time 1 average score of 0.50 ± 0.70 and a Time 2 average score of 0.57 ± 0.66. A statistically significant difference was found between the Time 1 and Time 2 average scores of the experimental and control groups on the RCSQ and between the Time 2 average scores of the experimental and control groups on the ICDSC (U = 198.00, P < .001; U = 70.000, P < .001; U = 614.000, P = ·004 respectively). CONCLUSIONS: The earplugs and eye masks used by the intensive care patients overnight were associated with an increase in sleep quality and a decrease in the degree of delirium. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: The use of earplugs and eye masks is recommended for intensive care units in supporting sleep quality and preventing delirium.

Effect of the use of earplugs and eye masks on the quality of sleep after major abdominal surgery: a randomised controlled trial.

Significant sleep disturbance can occur following major abdominal surgery. We aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of earplugs and eye masks in improving sleep quality and patient satisfaction, reducing nursing demands and in the incidence of delirium in patients after major abdominal surgery. We conducted a randomised controlled trial in 100 patients undergoing major abdominal surgery. We randomly allocated participants to sleep with or without earplugs and eye masks on postoperative days 1-3. The primary outcome measure was sleep quality as measured by the Richards-Campbell Sleep Questionnaire. Secondary outcomes were patient satisfaction, frequency of nursing demand and incidence of delirium measured by the Neelon and Champagne Confusion Scale. Median (IQR [range]) sleep scores were 64 (38-74 [0-100] and 60 (44-82 [18-100]) for the control and intervention groups, respectively (p = 0.310). Age and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index scores were found to be significant factors affecting sleep quality. There were no differences in patient satisfaction, reduction in frequency of nursing demands or incidence of delirium on postoperative days 1-3 after major abdominal surgery. The compliance rate in the intervention group was 60-65%. This study has demonstrated that the use of earplugs and eye masks did not contribute to improvements in sleep quality. Of note, sleep quality was moderate, with higher age and worse baseline sleep quality contributing to worse sleep scores. More studies are needed to investigate interventions to improve sleep quality after major abdominal surgery.

Impact of ear protection on occurrence of exostosis in surfers: an observational prospective study of 242 ears.

PURPOSE: The aim of the study was to investigate the efficacy of ear protection (earplug and surf hood) in preventing the development of external auditory exostosis (EAE) in surfers. METHODS: We performed a prospective observational study. Volunteer surfers were recruited from June 2016 to October 2017 on the Brittany coast in France. Each participant filled in a questionnaire and underwent otoscopic digitalized photography to establish the degree of external ear obstruction by two different practitioners. The correlation between the percentage of external ear obstruction and the time spent in water with or without protection was evaluated. Risk factors of EAE were assessed. RESULTS: Two hundred and forty-two ears were analysed. The incidence of EAE was 89.96% with an average rate of obstruction of 37.65%. Risk factors for EAE were male sex (p = 0.0005), number of years practicing surf (p < 0.0001) and symptoms of ear obstruction (p = 0.0358). A significant correlation was found between EAE severity and number of hours spent in water without any protection (earplugs or surf hood) (p < 0.0001). No correlation was found between EAE severity and time spent in water with earplugs (p = 0.6711) but a correlation was identified between obstruction and time spent in water with surf hood (p = 0.0358). CONCLUSIONS: Wearing earplugs is an effective way to prevent EAE in surfers unlike surf hood.

How hearing conservation training format impacts personal attenuation ratings in U.S. Marine Corps Training Recruits.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this fit-testing study in the field was to systematically compare three Hearing Protection Device (HPD) fit-training methods and determine whether they differ in the acquisition of HPD fitting skill and resulting amount of earplug attenuation. DESIGN: Subjects were randomly assigned to receive HPD fit-training using one of three training methods: current, experiential HPD (eHPD), and integrated. Personal Attenuation Ratings (PARs) were acquired via HPD fit-testing and used to verify attenuations pre- and post-training. STUDY SAMPLE: US Marine training recruits (n = 341) identified via HPD fit-testing for remedial HPD fit-training and assigned to three cohorts. RESULTS: The post-training HPD fit-test passing rate differed by training method, with pass rates ranging from 50% (current) to nearly 92% (eHPD). The difference between group delta PAR values were significantly higher (>9 dB) in both the eHPD and integrated methods compared to the current method. CONCLUSION: The HPD fit-training methods that teach "what right feels like" (eHPD and integrated) provided a greater number of trainees with the skill to achieve noise attenuation values required for impulse noise exposures encountered during basic training. The attenuation achieved by those methods was significantly greater than the current training method.

Effect of earplugs and eye masks on the sleep quality of intensive care unit patients: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

AIMS: To evaluate the effect of earplugs and eye masks on the sleep quality of patients in intensive care unit (ICU). DESIGN: Systematic review and meta-analysis. DATA SOURCES: Randomized controlled trial studies conducted before May 5, 2020 were searched for in Embase, MEDLINE, Cochrane Library, CINAHL and Index to Taiwan Periodical Literature System databases. REVIEW METHODS: Analyses in this study were according to the PRISMA statement. The heterogeneity of the data was investigated through sub-group analysis while a meta-analysis was performed using the Review Manager 5.3 software. RESULTS: A total of 797 patients from 13 studies were included in this study. Without considering alone or combined use of earplugs and eye masks, the meta-analysis supported that there was a significant effect on self-reported sleep quality. The overall standardized mean difference of the effect size was 1.44 (95% confidence interval [CI]: [0.80, 2.09]). Sub-group analysis indicated that the use of earplugs alone had no significant effect on sleep quality (effect size: 0.07, 95% [CI]: [-0.50, 0.64]). The use of eye masks alone had a significant effect on sleep quality (effect size: 1.56, 95% [CI]: [1.08, 2.05]). The use of both earplugs and eye masks proved to have the largest effect size on sleep quality (effect size: 2.08, 95% [CI]: [0.95, 3.21]). CONCLUSION: The combined use of earplugs and eye masks or the standalone use of eye masks is a non-invasive, economical and effective way to promote sleep quality in adult ICU patients. IMPACT: Clinical nurses could use this meta-analysis as it recommends that nurses provide adult ICU patients with either one or both earplugs and eye masks to improve the patients' sleep quality. STUDY REGISTRATION: The review protocol was registered a priori and published online in the PROSPERO database of systematic reviews (www.crd.York.ac.uk/Prospero with the registration number # CRD42021221185).

Assessing the comfort of earplugs: development and validation of the French version of the COPROD questionnaire.

Earplugs are a common form of protection for workers exposed to hazardous noise levels. Their comfort directly impacts the effective protection by influencing their consistent and correct use. Nevertheless, comfort definition may vary according to the studies. Thus, a previous review of the literature has shown that to improve our understanding of perceived comfort and to reduce measurement variability, it is advisable to consider comfort through a multidimensional construct (physical, acoustical, functional and psychological). On this basis, the COPROD (COnfort des PROtections auDitives/COmfort of hearing PROtection Devices) questionnaire was developed. It is intended for people working in noisy environments. Nine earplug models were evaluated by 118 participants over a six-week period. This paper presents the successive analyses that were used to validate the structure of the questionnaire and confirm the relevance of the proposed dimensions and of the addressed items. First results suggest a preference for custom moulded earplugs. Practitioner Summary: Earplugs comfort conditions the hearing protection of the users. As the definition of comfort can vary between studies, the COPROD questionnaire was developed to jointly evaluate all its dimensions. Nine earplugs models were evaluated by 118 participants during six weeks. This paper presents the validation process of the questionnaire. Abbreviations: COPROD: COnfort des PROtections auDitives/COmfort of hearing PROtection Devices; HPD: hearing protection devices; SEM: structural equation modeling; CFA: confirmatory factor analysis; GOF: goodness of fit; RMSEA: root mean square error of approximation; CFI: comparison fit index; SRMR: standardised root mean square residual.

[Experimental measurement of the real reduction (PAR) of seven ear plugs]. / Misura sperimentale del "PAR" di sette inserti auricolari.

SUMMARY: The study aimed to evaluate, through the use of the EA-RfitTM Validation System, the real reduction (PAR) for the right ear (AuD), for the left ear (AuS) and biaural reduction related to each of the seven earplugs currently produced by 3M. In addition, we wanted to verify any difference between the aforementioned PARs in consideration of the tendency to predominantly use the right hand (right-handed) or the left hand (left-handed) and in relation to gender. Finally, for each insert and for each subject, an audiometric examination was conducted with the insert worn, to compare the average PAR value obtained by the EA-RfitTM system for each of the seven inserts and for all selected subjects, with the determined abatement curve through the audiometric measurement of the hearing threshold with the insert worn. The use of the E-ARfitTM system for the choice of the ear insert leads to important advantages in the protection of all workers. Moldable acoustic PPE generally proved to be more efficient than non-moldable, so much so that the higher SNRs (provided by the manufacturer), especially when referring to non-moldable inserts, were found to be misleading as to the real personal abatement capacity of the inserts. The average audiometric curves, obtained with the different inserts worn, confirmed that all of them guarantee a higher reduction for high frequencies than for "social" ones.

Effect of Nighttime Earplugs and Eye Masks on Sleep Quality in Intensive Care Unit Patients.

PURPOSE: Poor sleep quality in intensive care unit (ICU) can be associated with poor outcome. Excessive noise and lights in ICU are known to disrupt patients' sleep by causing arousals. STUDY DESIGN: A prospective randomized controlled study. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The patients admitted to the medical ICU were prospectively included and randomized to receive earplugs and eye masks or no intervention during their first 5 nights in ICU. Their arousal index and other sleep parameters were measured during the first night by polysomnography. Secondary outcomes including wrist actigraphy profiles and subjective sleep quality were recorded during all study nights. RESULTS: Seventeen patients were enrolled. Eight patients were randomized to earplugs and eye masks group and nine patients were randomized to control group during their first 5 nights in the ICU. The use of earplugs and eye masks demonstrated the trend toward lower arousal index during the first night (21.15 (14.60) vs 42.10 (18.20) events per hour, p = 0.086) and increased activity index (activity count/hour) (16.12 (7.99) vs 10.84 (10.39) count/hour, p = 0.059) compared to control group. Polysomnography and actigraphy did not demonstrate good agreement. CONCLUSION: The use of earplugs and eye masks has a trend toward reduction in arousal index and increased activity in patients admitted to ICU. Limited sample size most likely explained insignificant difference in outcomes. Wrist actigraphy did not accurately measure sleep parameters in ICU patients. TRIAL REGISTRATION: www.clinicaltrials.in.th, TCTR20170727003. HOW TO CITE THIS ARTICLE: Arttawejkul P, Reutrakul S, Muntham D, Chirakalwasan N. Effect of Nighttime Earplugs and Eye Masks on Sleep Quality in Intensive Care Unit Patients. Indian J Crit Care Med 2020;24(1):6-10.

SleepSure: a pilot randomized-controlled trial to assess the effects of eye masks and earplugs on the quality of sleep for patients in hospital.

OBJECTIVE:: To determine the short-term effects of supplying hospital inpatients with earplugs and eye masks, preparatory to a full-scale trial. DESIGN:: A single-centre, open-label, two-arm, parallel group, randomized-controlled trial. SETTING:: A total of 13 medical and surgical wards in a large teaching hospital in the United Kingdom. PARTICIPANTS:: Everyone admitted to hospital aged 18 years or older, who stayed overnight and had the mental capacity and sufficient understanding of English to give consent, the ability to complete the study questionnaire and the ability to use earplugs and eye masks unaided was considered. INTERVENTIONS:: The intervention group was provided with earplugs and eye masks for use the following night, and the control group received standard care. MAIN MEASURES:: Sleep quality assessed using the SleepSure questionnaire after the first night of using the intervention, use of earplugs and eye masks, number of falls throughout their inpatient stay, use of zopiclone during inpatient stay, length of stay and recruitment rate. RESULTS:: A total of 1600 patients were admitted; out of which, 626 (39%) were eligible and 206 (13% total, 33% eligible) recruited (intervention group, 109). The intervention group's mean sleep quality score was 6.33 (95% confidence interval (CI): 5.89-6.77), compared with 5.09 (95% CI: 4.66-5.52) in the control group ( p < 0.001). There were no differences in use of zopiclone, falls or length of stay between the groups. Of the intervention group, 91 (86%) reported using the earplugs and/or eye masks. CONCLUSIONS:: The intervention seems feasible, and effective, but trial eligibility rate and rate of recruitment into the study were limited.

Effectiveness of using eye mask and earplugs on sleep length and quality among intensive care patients: A quasi-experimental study.

AIM: This study aims to assess the effect of using a combination of eye mask and earplugs on the perceived quality of sleep among patients admitted to intensive care units. DESIGN: Control group, pretest and posttest, quasi-experimental design was used. METHODS: Data were collected from 103 intensive care patients in two governmental hospitals in Jordan. The participants were assigned either an experimental or a control group. The experimental group participants received routine care in the first night and used the eye mask and earplug during their sleep in the second night. Control group participants, on the other hand, received routine care only in both nights. The number of hours slept was reported by nurses, and the perceived quality of sleep was self-reported by participants using the Richards-Campbell Sleep Scale. RESULTS: Experimental group participants slept more hours and reported significantly better perceived quality of sleep after the use of eye mask and earplugs, as compared both with themselves in the first night and with control group participants. CONCLUSION: Combining eye masks and earplugs is effective in prolonging the sleep of intensive care patients and improving its quality.

Effect of Using Eye Masks and Earplugs on the Risk of Post-traumatic Stress Disorder Development in Patients Admitted to Cardiac Surgery Intensive Care Units.

CONTEXT: Critically ill patients are at risk of post-traumatic stress disorder development. AIM: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of using eye masks and earplugs on the risk of post-traumatic stress disorder development in patients admitted to cardiac surgery intensive care units. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: This is a clinical trial that conducted in intensive care units in Iran. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sample of the present clinical trial consisted of 68 patients undergoing open-heart cardiac surgery that were randomly assigned to two groups. Patients in the control group received the usual care, and patients in the intervention group used eye masks and earplugs during sleep. The risk of post-traumatic stress disorder development before surgery and 2 months after discharge from the intensive care unit was assessed using the impact of event scale-revised. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: Statistical analysis: Data were analyzed using paired t-test and independent t-test in Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 24 software. RESULTS: Patients in the two groups were similar in terms of demographic characteristics. The mean of the total scores of patients in the control and intervention group before surgery was 10.41 ± 5.25 and 10.71 ± 5.10, respectively (p = 0.82). The mean of the total scores of patients in the control and intervention group 2 months after discharge was 29.50 ± 5.90 and 11.72 ± 6.48, respectively (p <0.001). CONCLUSION: The use of eye masks and earplugs significantly reduces the risk of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) development in patients undergoing open-heart cardiac surgery. HOW TO CITE THIS ARTICLE: Azimian J, Assar O, Javadi A, Froughi Z. Effect of Using Eye Masks and Earplugs on the Risk of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Development in Patients Admitted to Cardiac Surgery Intensive Care Units. Indian Journal of Critical Care Medicine, January 2019;23(1):31-34.