Forgoing Overnight Vital Signs for Hospitalized Children
What You Need to Know Before You Apply
What is the purpose of this trial?
This trial aims to determine if skipping overnight vital checks can improve sleep quality for hospitalized children. Nurses typically check vital signs every four hours, often waking children. The study will compare children who skip these checks with those who continue to have them. It is suitable for children aged 1 to 18 who are hospitalized and do not have conditions like chronic lung disease or recent fevers. A caregiver who speaks English or Spanish must consent for participants. As an unphased trial, this study offers a unique opportunity for children to potentially experience better sleep during their hospital stay.
Will I have to stop taking my current medications?
The trial does not specify if you need to stop taking your current medications, but you cannot participate if you've taken certain medications like opioids or sedatives in the past 24 hours.
What prior data suggests that forgoing overnight vital signs is safe for hospitalized children?
Research has shown that skipping some overnight vital sign checks for hospitalized children might be safe. One study found that reducing these checks decreased sleep interruptions from 24% to 8%. This suggests that not checking vital signs at night could improve sleep without causing harm.
Another study examined whether these checks led to new health problems and found that routine overnight checks rarely caused new issues for stable children. This indicates that skipping these checks might not increase risks for children.
Overall, these findings suggest that skipping some overnight vital sign checks could be safe and may help hospitalized children sleep better.12345Why are researchers excited about this trial?
Researchers are excited about this trial because it explores the potential benefits of forgoing overnight vital sign checks for hospitalized children. Unlike the standard practice, which involves waking patients at night for monitoring, this approach allows children to have uninterrupted sleep. The main idea is that better sleep might help kids recover faster by reducing stress and improving overall rest. This trial could lead to a new standard of care, enhancing the hospital experience for young patients while potentially improving health outcomes.
What evidence suggests that forgoing overnight vital signs is effective for improving sleep quality in hospitalized children?
This trial will compare the effects of forgoing overnight vital signs with standard care in hospitalized children. Research has shown that checking vital signs at night often interrupts children's sleep in hospitals. Studies have identified these checks as a major reason for poor sleep in acute care units. Early evidence suggests that skipping unnecessary checks at night might improve children's sleep. Specifically, one study aimed to reduce sleep disruptions by 10% over a year by cutting down on these checks. Thus, skipping some nighttime checks could enhance sleep without compromising patient care.12367
Who Is on the Research Team?
Leandra Bitterfeld, MSN
Principal Investigator
Intermountain Primary Children's Hospital
Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?
This trial is for children hospitalized in medical-surgical units who typically have their vital signs checked every four hours overnight. Specific eligibility criteria are not provided, but it's implied that participants should be affected by the current standard of care for vital sign monitoring.Inclusion Criteria
Exclusion Criteria
Timeline for a Trial Participant
Screening
Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial
Treatment
Participants are allocated to either standard of care vital signs monitoring or no overnight vital signs for one night
Follow-up
Participants complete a sleep diary and sleep disruption survey after the study night
What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?
Interventions
- Forgone overnight vital signs
Find a Clinic Near You
Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?
Intermountain Health Care, Inc.
Lead Sponsor