P102 Sleep health management practices in Australian residential aged care facilities: The perspective of registered nurses

BACKGROUND: Sleep disturbances are commonly experienced by older people living in residential aged care facilities. Non-pharmacological approaches have a strong evidence base, however research shows that medications (sedatives, antidepressants, antipsychotics) are often used inappropriately. However, little is known about healthcare professionals’ current sleep health management approaches in residential aged care facilities. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to explore the current sleep health management practices in Australian residential aged care facilities and investigate potential ways to improve non-pharmacological and pharmacological sleep health practices in the future. DESIGN: Qualitative inductive thematic analysis of semi-structured interviews guided by COREQ guidelines. METHODS: Semi-structured interviews were to be conducted with registered nurses and aged care pharmacists recruited using a convenience-sampling and snowballing approach. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim and inductively analysed for emergent themes. RESULTS: Fourteen interviews were conducted with registered nurses in New South Wales. Thematic analysis derived three main themes: 1) Awareness and observations of sleep health, 2) Healthcare approach to sleep health management in residential aged care facilities and, 3) Organisational constraints to evidence-based sleep health care provision. CONCLUSION: Registered nurses assess residents’ sleep health and attempt to manage sleep health through both non-pharmacological and pharmacological strategies. Organisational culture and staffing ratios negatively impact the delivery of best evidence-based practice but effective communication between the multidisciplinary team appears to facilitate management of sleep disturbances. Participants emphasized the need for sleep health educational programs and the development of national sleep health management guidelines across aged care in Australia.