The effect of earplugs on sleep quality in patients with acute coronary syndrome

Sleep is one of the basic human needs and sleep deprivation causes numerous adverse effects on the human body and mind. Due to reduced sleep quality in patients with acute coronary syndrome, this study was carried out to " determine the effect of earplugs on sleep quality in patients with acute coronary syndrome. " In this two-group controlled clinical trial, sixty patients with acute coronary syndrome in the coronary care units of Baqiyatallah hospital in Tehran in 2010, were selected by purposeful sampling method and randomly allocated in two groups of case and control. In the case group, in the second night stay, the intervention of earplugs was done per night and by using the Petersburg's sleep quality questionnaire; sleep quality was evaluated during and at the end of hospitalization. Then data were analyzed by paired T test, independ T test, Spearman and Pearson's correlation coefficient and SPSS 19 software. Total sleep quality, score in case group was significantly decreased after intervention (6.3±2.1) than before intervention (10.3±6.3) (p<0.001). Also, total score of sleep quality after intervention in case group (6.3±2.1) has significant different compared to control group (9.1±4.8) (p<0.001). Using earplugs, as an economical and uncomplicated method, can improve sleep quality in patients with acute coronary syndrome in the coronary care units and can be used as an alternative method of treatment instead of drug therapy.